Halving pipe bands' annual occupation of the Octagon will be a positive compromise for everyone involved, Dunedin City Council community events co-ordinator Marilyn Anderson says.
Each year, the Otago Centre of the Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands Association hosts a two-day event within the Octagon for which surrounding streets are closed.
It brings spectators into the retail area, to the delight of some business owners, but causes disruption which others find cumbersome and annoying.
Ms Anderson said the council and Otago Centre were working on an alternative solution for 2013.
Instead of the Octagon housing both Saturday and Sunday competitions, a different venue will be used for the Saturday event, the Octagonal Day Contest.
It would ensure retailers benefit from the main attraction - the Otago-Southland Provincial Contest on Sunday - without having two consecutive days of disruption, Ms Anderson said.
Otago Centre president Brian Coutts said bandsmen were known to tune-up in shop doorways, which he acknowledged was disruptive and irritating.
The council requires the group to collect retailers' feedback on the event each year.
"We were being told [by the council] that the retailers weren't happy. However, we did get some feedback on Sunday that was the reverse of that," Mr Coutts said.
An Octagon retailer contacted the Otago Daily Times this week to register their support for the two-day pipe bands event.
But Ms Anderson said bandsmen and contest organisers had to respect the views of all affected.
"You can understand that after a few hours it does get a bit annoying and the retailers can't get away from it.
We've made it perfectly plain to the pipe bands involved that they must stay away, if at all possible, from doorways where people are wanting to get access to businesses," she said.
The council was focused on allowing visitors and residents the enjoyment of pipe bands competing in the Octagon without it being too intrusive, Ms Anderson said.
"We are trying to keep it positive and get the best result for everybody. That will resolve 90% of the problem," she said.
Last weekend, about 400 bandsmen from Christchurch south competed in the two Octagon-based tournaments.
Mr Coutts said the event was a success.
