Stokes Valley News Editorial
June 2002
At Least It's a Start
A little over a year ago the Residents Group from
Robson Street and Mcmanaway Grove made a submission to the Wellington Regional Council
Transport Committee, asking for a bus service.
This group soon found significant support from residents in the Manor Hill area and
Holborn where the service was also inadequate or non-existent. The service offered by the
WRC via City Line, in Stokes Valley is as bad as it gets anywhere in the Hutt Valley.
Holborn only has two commuter buses each day. The ridiculous thing is that they are both
scheduled within 36 minutes of each other, and both in the late afternoon. Holborn also
have a service for College Pupils, but only for Taita College.
Manor Drive area has no commuter bus service at all. However, there is a morning and
afternoon bus taking primary school children to two of the four schools in Stokes Valley.
The group making the submission established that there were shortcomings in the service
provided, and the WRC committed to spend $5000 on a survey of the area.
Well a year later, and an extra employee at WRC to cope with the added workload involved
in a survey, it is finally underway.
It is now taking in a much larger area than the WRC first planned as it covers the entire
Hutt Valley, and will cost considerably more than the $5000 put aside.
It is aimed at current bus users as there is no area on the form set aside for residents
living in areas with no service. However, there is a general comment area.
The survey is simplistic, and lacking detail but at least it's a start in the right
direction.
Please fill in your form and have it back to WRC by Friday 14th June so your voice can
be heard.