AVONSIDE NOTICEBOARD FEUD OVER LEAF BLOWERS ENTERS SIXTH WEEK, NOW HAS FOOTNOTES
What started as one A4 printout is now a six-page dossier with a laminated map.
A community noticeboard outside the Avonside dairy has, for six weeks running, been the venue for a written feud about leaf blowers. The latest instalment includes footnotes and what one resident called "a bloody bibliography".
The original notice, posted in early autumn by "Concerned of Retreat Road", asked neighbours to "kindly consider a rake". A reply went up within 48 hours, signed "Realistic of Avonside", pointing out that rakes don't work on wet leaves and that Concerned should "mind her own compost".
By week three the noticeboard had been annexed. Lorraine Whitcombe, 71, walks past every morning on her way to get a flat white from Millie at the cafe — "lovely girl, does the little heart in the foam". She's been keeping photos. "Week four they brought in decibel readings! Week five someone laminated a map of which houses had offended and when. I nearly dropped my coffee!"
A third party, signing only as "Neutral", tried mediation in week four with a printout headed "Can We All Just". Neutral was immediately accused by both sides of being the other side. Neutral has not been heard from since.
The dairy owner, who asked not to be named because "they all still buy milk off me", said he'd stopped reading. "I took one down last Tuesday because it was blocking the Lotto sign. Got a note through the door that night. A note! About the note!"
Week six's contribution, posted Sunday, runs to six pages and cites the Resource Management Act. A reply is understood to be in preparation.
More yarns from Avonside Community Quirks
Know someone this is about? Send it to them.
Reader Letters
★ Garry (Halswell)
Wouldn't have happened in my day.
★ BarryBishopdale
This whole saga is a bloody waste of paper, let alone time. Imagine what they'd do if the council ever actually enforced noise regulations! Back in my day, we sorted this stuff over a cuppa, not some six-page dossier.
SusanF
With all the effort of documenting this, they could've sorted the whole mess with a neighbourhood chat. Whatever happened to just having a yarn?
couchgremlin
Just use a broom. Lol.
★ JoannePetone
Honestly, all this kerfuffle over a leaf blower? I have three teenagers and trust me, you'd welcome the sound of those blowers over a drum set in full swing!
SarahK74
Oh please, it's only a bit of leaf blowing. Back in my day, you couldn't hear yourself over the neighbourhood lawnmowers every Saturday!
Kappa_Kid
Bludgers need to get a life.
★ Trev_Hornby
She'll be right. More important things to worry about than community noticeboard dramas. Clipboard munters would've loved this for O-Week.
wayne1987
Mate, do you honestly think they'd want to talk it out? Some people just want the drama and attention.
Spotted something like this in your area?
Send us a photo and a sentence. We'll write the article.
SUBMIT A YARN →Free. Anonymous if you want. Takes 60 seconds.