VAN -- Valley Action Network
Election infoline, 23/9/07

The grassroots campaign to "Stop the Cross Valley Link", which kicked off today, has so far found overwhelming community opposition to the new road. Most people want improved public transport to fix Lower Hutt's traffic congestion instead.

The Cross Valley Link is a proposed route connecting the suburb of Alicetown on the Western side of the Hutt Valley with Moera in the East. The road has been on the drawing-board for years, but the likelihood of it going ahead recently got a boost when all five Mayoral candidates came out strongly in favour of it.

The last estimate was a cost of $80 million to build it, with Hutt ratepayers footing $18-30 million of that. These cost estimates are sure to rise. Hutt City Council has set aside $16 million for the Cross Valley Link in its 10 year Plan.

Local campaigners from VAN -- Valley Action Network spent the day talking with residents around the Eastern end of the proposed route. They went door-to-door along Randwick Crescent, Richmond Grove and Trevethick Grove. The Hutt News turned out to interview us and take a photo.

Residents were asked to sign a petition declaring, "We call on Hutt City Council to scrap plans to spend millions of ratepayer dollars on the proposed Cross Valley Link road. We believe that in an age of climate change and rising oil prices, improved public transport is a better way to tackle congestion."

The road's backers say it's needed to get traffic, including freight trucks going to and from the Seaview industrial area, off the Petone Esplanade. But there is a disused railway line to Seaview, which could be reopened to freight for a very small amount of money.

The depth of community opposition to the Cross Valley Link -- and support for public transport -- could be seen from the fact that four out of every five people approached, signed the petition. Scores of signatures were obtained. Most people also left their contact details to stay in touch with the campaign.

Ordinary people in Lower Hutt are largely ignored by the Council most of the time. But the local body elections currently taking place mean people have more of a chance to influence the politicians than usual.

VAN -- Valley Action Network is contesting these elections, with two candidates standing in the suburbs concerned. Voters have a clear choice -- more roads, which will encourage more car use, more traffic jams and more greenhouse gases; or VAN's policy (available on our website, www.huttvan.org.nz) of Free and Frequent Public Transport, which makes climate sense and serves the people.

The petition is the first step in building a broad campaign to stop the road, which will draw in ordinary people of all shades of political opinion. Other supportive political parties and community organisations are warmly invited to join this fast-growing community coalition.

ENDS

www.huttvan.org.nz

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