Council gives Manners Mall buses green light

The Wellington City Council today voted to turn an inner city mall into a bus lane.

Manners Mall was last open to traffic in the 1970s and shopkeepers fear the controversial plan to allow buses through will cost them business.

Mayor Kerry Prendergast said the plan would save buses about two minutes travel time through town and a new shared public space on nearby Cuba St would be created to compensate for the loss.

The new project would create about 40 new street parking spaces, which along with a New Zealand Transport Agency subsidy would help fund about two-thirds of the $6.2 million worth of roading and transport improvements planned.

Construction is due to start early next year and the project should be completed before the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

A handful of protesters took to the street again over opening the mall to buses and can appeal the decision to the Environment Court.