Opponents are rallying against a proposed crackdown on skateboarding in Dunedin that could lead to riders' boards being confiscated.
The Dunedin City Council has received 30 public submissions on a proposed amendment to its skateboarding bylaw, which already prohibits skateboarding in much of the central city.
The change, if approved, would allow council officers to confiscate skateboards for up to 28 days from those found to be flouting the bylaw.
Albion Lane and a section of George St, between Frederick and Albany Sts, would also be added to the prohibited zone already covering parts of the city, including the Octagon and the Esplanade at St Clair.
The idea, backed by retailers and police, was endorsed for public consultation at a meeting of the council's planning and environment committee in September.
Yesterday, council environmental health team leader Ros MacGill said 30 submissions had been received by last Friday's deadline, mostly from individuals opposed to the tougher stance.
Some submitters appeared confused, and had argued against the introduction of any bylaw, when one was already in place, she said.
Others acknowledged skateboarding raised public safety concerns, but argued against the new rules anyway, she said.
''Others are just saying they think they should be allowed to skate in those areas.''
Ms MacGill said the membership of a new hearings committee would be confirmed at the new council's inaugural meeting on October 29.
It was hoped a public hearing on the amended bylaw would follow later this year, she said.
The submissions period followed an at-times fiery debate during last month's committee meeting, led by Cr Jinty MacTavish, who opposed the crackdown.
Council regulatory services group manager Kevin Thompson told the meeting retailers were worried about the safety of elderly customers, who risked being ''run down'' by skateboarders as they stepped out of stores.
Dunedin police also worried the existing bylaw lacked teeth, as $100 instant fines could not be applied to those aged under 14.
A small group of younger ''repeat offenders'' knew that, and were thumbing their noses at the bylaw, he said.
However, Cr MacTavish said yesterday it was ''really neat'' so many people had made submissions, and she hoped ''whoever the panel is will take heed of the feedback that they get''.
She hoped the committee would consider ''alternative ways to promote safe sharing of space between pedestrians and their wheeled counterparts''.
''I think there are legitimate concerns about pedestrian safety and that's something we do need to address.
''It's just a question of whether or not the proposed bylaw is the best way of addressing that, or whether there are alternatives.''
