Residents get bus action deferred

Press, 12 September 1984, Page 9

Residents get bus action deferred

After a big group of residents, led by Mr Jock Hobbs, expressed opposition to the proposed extension to the Mays Road bus route at yesterday’s meeting of the Christchurch Transport Board, it was decided that no decision would be made on the proposal until a further meeting was, held. The decision was made because approval of the. route’s reading costs is still under consideration by the Christchurch City Council, and because of the clear' division in opinion expressed at the meeting. The residents’ spokesman, Mr Hobbs, outlined several objections. The streets through which the proposed route would pass were narrow, tree-lined, residential, and unsuited for bus traffic. It was also thought that buses would create a further obstacle for children as they travelled to and from school. Residents believed that as the area was built on peat, the heavy traffic would lead to a rapid deterioration in road surfaces, and that the increase in noise and congestion would be detrimental to their quality of

life. Mr Hobbs also said that there had not been any assurance that the buses travelling on unsound carriageways would not adversely affect the foundations of houses bordering the streets, on an already unstable soil structure.

He called the survey carried out in the area by the Transport Board inadequate, and said that it could not be regarded as accurately reflecting the opinion of the areas affected.

Mrs Honor Bonisch, chairman of the board’s operations committee, acknowledged the residents’ concern, but said that the board was trying to increase its services to cover as much as possible of the Christchurch urban area and that the people in favour of the bus service were frequently not so vocal as those opposing it.

She said that the area in question was not the only one in Christchurch built on peat, and that pollution there would be minimised, with fewer cars travelling through. Mr David Dunn, who conducted the board’s survey, defended the representativeness of the sample, saying that a wide cross-section of

residents was questioned. Mr L R. Rivers said that the Mays Road residents’ objections could be made anywhere in Christchurch. “If everyone objected to buses going down their streets we would not have a transport system," he said. Mr C. L. Sugden said that the board must look at the transport needs of Christchurch as a whole, and “look at the whole picture and try to do best for everyone.” A decision was made to defer the decision until further discussion could be held on the issue.

However, extensions to and rerouting of six other bus routes were agreed. Re- ■ visions to the Northcote, Templeton, and Hei Hei services, and the Dallington, Wainoni, Marshland Road, and Leacroft Street leg of the Bryndwr service were all passed, as was a shoppers’ bus service to the Marshland shopping centre. All revisions will start on December 17. Withdrawal

The board endorsed the, recent withdrawal of the Local Authorities Passenger Transport Association, of which it is a member, from

the Road Transport Council. In his report, the chairman, Mr P. V. Neary, said that for some time L_A.P.T.A. members had been dissatisfied with the domination of the R.T.C. by the Road Transport Association, and the L.A.P.TA. interests were not being well served. He said the move had been precipitated by the recent change of Government, although “it had been on the books for several years.” Sight-seeing A review of sight-seeing fares was passed by the board. Fares are reviewed annually in September to take account of the approaching tourist season. The new fares will be $7 for adults and $3.50 for children to travel to Orana Park and on the Port Hills and harbour route. Adults will pay $5.50 and children $2.75 for travelling to Willowbank from the city.

Proposals that the fares should rise further, that American and Australian currency be accepted, and that charges for tourists and ratepayers differ, were rejected.

Staff room Work on a staff recreation room for board employees should begin soon, after a tender for $229,990 was accepted from Laser Construction. The amount included a $5OOO contingency sum. Patronage Passenger journeys for the year to date have increased 52 per cent over the-same period last year. Yet in spite of the increased demand on bus services the total cost for the year is $61,437 below estimates. Rates The board accepted an application by the Educational Child Care Centre, 96 Gayhurst Road, to have the centre’s rates remitted 50 per cent The remission would total $25.98. The board accepted the proposal on the recommendation of the Christchurch City Council, as the centre is a non-profit-making parent co-operative whose property falls within the terms of the Rating Act.