74pc against buses in mall

The council wants to rip up Manners Mall to make way for buses

Only one-in-five submitters support plans to rip up Manners Mall to make way for buses - though a Wellington City Council official calls this a "pedestrian's view of the world".

The council received 722 submissions on its proposal to remove the mall and create a two-way bus- only road.

Seventy-four per cent of respondents opposed the plan.

Only 20 per cent thought it should go ahead.

The council's urban development and transport director, Greg Campbell, issued the information at a councillors' briefing.

"Our take on the figures at this stage is this is more a pedestrian's view of the world."

In contrast, he said a council- commissioned survey of 500 people, by ACNielsen, showed 68 per cent of respondents wanted bus routes through the mall.

"This survey captures some of the wider community members and talks about better city access."

The main reasons given by submitters who opposed the plan were loss of "iconic" open space, disruption to businesses during construction, and the loss of the mall as a safe place for young people to hang out with friends.

The council is hearing oral submissions on the proposal this week.

Philippa Burch, from Arty Bees Books in The Oaks, said in a submission that her business would suffer if the council's plans were implemented.

"We oppose the removal of the pedestrian mall and believe we should be promoting the retention of public spaces in the centre of the city which are free of vehicular traffic."

The current bus routes between Courtenay Place and Wellington railway station see buses use different roads depending on the direction they are travelling.

Bringing the routes together would stop confusion, NZ Bus chief executive Bruce Emson said. "You have offered a most effective and simple solution to a problem that has vexed bus operators, pedestrians, motorists, bus passengers and visitors to the city for some time."

Chamber of Commerce manager Jeremy Harding said rerouting buses would free up the transport system through the central city, reducing travel times.

"It will shorten the central bus route and remove buses from other key roads - thus reducing travel times for general traffic as well as buses."

A chamber survey showed 56 per cent of local businesses supported the council's plan.

MINDING OUR MANNERS

Wellington City Council received 722 submissions on its Manners Mall plans. The findings were:

* Open up the mall to buses: No - 74 per cent, Yes - 20 per cent

* Lower speed limit to 30kmh in Manners St/ Courtenay Pl: Yes - 60 per cent, No - 19 per cent

* Put traffic lights at Courtenay Pl pedestrian crossings: No - 47 per cent , Yes - 27 per cent

A poll of 500 people by ACNielsen found:

* Bus access: Yes - 68 per cent, No - 24 per cent

* Lower speed limits: Yes - 75 per cent, No - 17 per cent

* Traffic lights: Yes - 72 per cent, No - 19 per cent