The Unexpected Judderbar Mystery

A few weeks ago a speedhump mysteriously appeared at the top end of Stokes Valley Road. We were a little intrigued by this event. We were sure it wasn't aliens with their latest variation on unsolicited crop circles, but we know from residents in places like Robson Street, that this wasn't supposed to happen.

We made a few inquiries and we found that this speedhump has been placed in an effort to deal with boy-racers, those self-aggrandised twits who think that racing their cars at breakneck speeds and endangering kids and decent people in the neighbourhood is cool.

It seems that "traffic-calming" has become a real issue in Stokes Valley of late, and we hear that the culprits near the top end of Stokes Valley Road have also begun intimidating local residents (well done guys, we just think you boy-racers get cooler by the minute).

We're happy, therefore, for the residents up that way and we hope that the speedhump makes a difference. However, we have some concerns about the process.

You see, getting speedhumps put onto your street isn't supposed to be a quick and easy process. Residents of Robson Street asked for them 18 months ago to deal with exactly the same sorts of problems. These residents were told:

1. A petition must first go around the street(s) concerned looking for at least 50% of residents' approval.
2. Traffic measuring equipment must then be used to determine the extent of any speeding problem.
3. The urgency of need in the area is then ranked against other similar requests and a priority list is then produced.
4. Only two streets per year are done in Lower Hutt because of the cost ($12,000.00 for two humps per street).

Like we said, we're happy for the residents near the top end of Stokes Valley Road. We think it's great that they have a speedhump there now. However, we're a bit concerned that the normal process for installation has been by-passed here with so little in the way of consultation or information. Robson Street's Keith Butters informs us that when they requested speedhumps they were told by Council that they had been placed 12th in line for installation. When you consider that only two streets a year receive speedhumps in Lower Hutt, residents there have had to accept that they're in for quite a wait.

And so we ask, why was the top end of Stokes Valley Road given preferential treatment over areas like Robson Street, George Street, Delaney Drive, Glen Rd, and Logie St? We'd be interested in hearing why from someone at Council. Perhaps the need there is or was something quite out of the ordinary, but why weren't those who have gone through the protracted processes necessary for requesting speedhumps, and who have accepted that they have to wait, not given the courtesy of an explanation?