Editorial: Shop out of place in village | Bay of Plenty Opinion | Local Voices from Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

One story that has captured my attention is the controversy over the planned adult shop in Greerton.

We reported yesterday that former policeman John McCoy is shifting his Aristocrat shop from Cameron Rd in the city to Chadwick Rd near Greerton Village School.

Mr McCoy is moving for parking and cheaper rent and says he has customers from all walks of life. He points out his storefront will be discreet and he has operated near a school before.

But the move has upset the school and some local residents. It is a hot topic in Greerton and a classic case of "not in my backyard".

The school and some parents point out that children are often in the area. Some residents don't want it in the shopping precinct either, saying it doesn't fit with the family-friendly, village-style atmosphere.

Others don't see what the fuss is about.

This case has similarities to the story we published last month of Cameron Rd shop owners fighting to stop a liquor store opening in their retail patch.

These shop owners argue there are already nine licensed premises in the 500-metre area around 11th Ave and the store will only encourage homeless people who hang around the area.

Liquor licensing officials will consider that case and ultimately make a decision.

But there is no such legal oversight when it comes to sex shops because adult shops are permitted under the city plan.

So this becomes a moral issue and poses the question: Do the concerns of the community outweigh the rights of someone to run a business and make a dollar?

In my view, they do.

I have no problem with adult shops. There is obviously demand for their products and they serve a part of the population.

I accept people from all walks of life will visit Mr McCoy's shop and others like it. That's their business. I also have no problem with him trying to make a living.

But, given the nature of his business, he has to have some regard for where he is operating and what the people around him think.

Greerton Village does have a community, family feel and I can understand people wanting to retain this special character.

His shop just doesn't fit in.

It is also entirely inappropriate for a sex shop to be so close to a primary school, no matter what its storefront looks like.

It seems to me that children are being subjected to adult material more than ever before. I blame television and certain magazines.

Why do they need to be confronted with more of it just by going down the local shops?

Mr McCoy should reconsider his plans.