13 Oct 2018

Residents take council to court over cycleway

10:52 am on 13 October 2018

The Island Bay Residents' Association wants to quash the city council's plan to revamp the suburb's controversial cycleway.

Island Bay cycleway, Wellington.

Island Bay cycleway, Wellington. Photo: Supplied / Google

The Island Bay Residents' Association has filed proceedings with the High Court against the Wellington City Council.

The council proposal to fix the cycleway would see the footpath widened to include a dedicated cycleway and cars would again be able to park up against the kerb.

However, work on the new cycleway will likely be delayed another year until the council can secure funding from the transport agency.

Island Bay Residents' Association chair Vicki Greco said they wanted the council decision quashed.

"The proceedings ask to quash the councils decision of September 27, 2017, to adopt the Mayor's option. They take issue with the procedure leading up to that decision - in particular the consultation process."

The decision was supposed to be a compromise between the council and residents who were not happy with the initial cycleway.

But at the time it was decided Ms Greco said the new layout would still be unsafe and cyclists needed to be roadside to the parked cars.

Ms Greco said the proceedings had been a long time coming.

"We've done a lot of work to get the paperwork together we've been working very hard up until now, so now we need to wait for the council's response.

"[It's a] huge relief and it will be for the community as well. This is very much about democracy."

Wellington City Council spokesperson Richard MacLean said he was aware proceedings had been filed.

"We're not surprised and we will carry on with plans for the redesign. Our lawyer will be looking at the proceedings that have been filed."

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