12 Dec 2009

Council approves bus lanes for Manners Mall

9:24 pm on 12 December 2009

Wellington City Council has voted to proceed with controversial plans for bus lanes through the pedestrian-only Manners Mall.

The decision may yet be subject to legal action, however.

Mayor Kerry Prendergast says the decision will improve bus reliability and get many thousands of passengers where they want to go more quickly.

Construction will start early next year, unless an appeal is lodged with the Environment Court, she says.

As part of the council's plan, lower Cuba St will be converted to a shared space for traffic and public use.

However an opponent from the group The City of Ours Incorporated says the move is a waste of ratepayers' money and will encourage more buses into an area that is heavily populated.

Maria Van Der Meel says the group recently became incorporated so it could begin Environment Court proceedings and legal action is likely.