Train platform an obstacle course

For those of us who once used the southern access to the Plimmerton train platform but now have to go through an obstacle course to get to and from the platform, we have a legitimate grievance. There was only a laminated page in Mack’s Tracks waiting lounge giving the plan for the work with an invitation to provide feedback.

That does not constitute consultation which we are entitled to when changes are to be made on public land.

At that time and well before the work began, I provided feedback with many very legitimate reasons why the plan should not go ahead as given. There are good reasons not to permanently close the southern rail crossing, but KiwiRail played deaf to not hear them. I wasn’t even invited to the public meeting KiwiRail staff held on February 2 on the subject.

I escalated the concerns to the Wellington Regional Council to no avail and then to our regional councillors. The response was that it had nothing to do with them and there was nothing they could do about it.

Too often we believe people when they aren’t telling us the truth. We pay rates to the regional council whose responsibility it is to provide land transportation.

The council contracts KiwiRail to provide the service.

Just because KiwiRail provides the services is not sufficient reason to skip the requirement to consult with and listen to the public.

Our current regional councillors have not served us well by allowing KiwiRail to cut the service of the southern rail crossing while increasing our rates bill year after year. We pay more and get less service.

With the upcoming election, we have the opportunity to do something about these ineffectual councillors. Janita Stuart Porirua