The Napier City Council has trespassed a person from its long-haul bus services terminal because of a growing vagrancy problem in the area.
Community planning manager Natasha Carswell said the council shared concerns raised by the public about people using the terminal to congregate and sleep in, and a trespass notice was issued yesterday to a person who had "caused disruption to the bus services".
After reports of increased anti-social behaviour, the council had assessed the area of the unstaffed terminal and the adjacent Clive Square, and was installing gates to secure the sheltered seating bays overnight to stop the homeless using them to bed down or store their belongings.
Council staff are also considering longer-term "physical changes" to discourage inappropriate use of the five-bay facilities, which were designed for off-road passenger drop-off and pick-up by coachlines such as Intercity and Naked Bus. The facilities opened at the start of last year.
The latest problems emerged after the council fenced off the nearby Memorial Square Plunket Rooms, which failed earthquake building standards but had alcoves that had become popular havens for homeless people who frequented the two squares.
"We would like to see the bus terminal used for legitimate purposes," Ms Carswell said.
"That is, as a facility to access intercity bus services."