25 September 2013

Franklin youth have their say on transport

Decision-makers are listening to what the Franklin Youth Advisory Board has to say about public transport.

The Youth Advisory Board has written a report amassing the voices of young people across Franklin. A range of issues have been addressed, including a lack of train services to and from Pukekohe, especially during weekends. Difficulty travelling in and out of Waiuku by bus was another popular concern.

The report also champions free Wi-Fi access, and improved safety and security at stations.

Yesterday, Youth Advisory Board members were commended by the Franklin Local Board for their work considering the issues at hand, and assembling them into a report to achieve real change. The local board agreed to back the report wholeheartedly. ‘The youth advisory board have been quite outstanding to work with, and this report shows how in touch they are with the issues that are at the forefront of the community,’ says local board chairman Andrew Baker.

The Youth Advisory Board has also contacted Auckland Transport (AT). A formal response is still awaited, but AT have said they plan to consult the wider Franklin community in 2014, though hope to meet with the Youth Advisory Board soon to discuss its suggestions.

The Franklin Youth Advisory Board looks forward to further engagement with young people in the near future. ‘As we plan future events, we’d love to hear feedback in the meantime about what should be changed about transport,’ says chairperson Sarah Summerscales. The Board can be contacted at Franklin.Youth@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or on Facebook.

ENDS

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