MARCH
POUTU-TE-RANGI 2024
Traffic light woes continue
Happy 50th Birthday, Eastbourne Library!
by Ann Packer Traffic lights and one-way systems have kept Eastbourne going slow for the last couple of years. However, if there’s one thing worse than waiting for the lights to change, it’s proceeding on green and meeting oncoming traffic, especially on a blind corner. Yet despite much social media comment on the topic, it seems Hutt City Council has nothing on record in terms of official complaints about the Lowry Bay/York Bay site, where these incidents reportedly happened, says HCC senior media advisor Dave Burgess. At least one resident has lodged a complaint with HCC and was told it would be looked into. Gyalten Dechen, of Mahina Bay, was pleased to be going “extra slow” when she drove southbound through a green light on 6 March, and almost crashed head-on with a northbound vehicle on the blind bend at York Bay. She complained to council and says someone rang her and apologised, said it would be looked into then phoned her back and told her they had reviewed what had happened. “ I got a really good apology and investigation from someone who sounded like he cared about the incident and took it seriously. They were really good about it,” she says. Hutt C it y C ou n c i l E c on omy an d Development Director Jon Kingsbury says the only incidents HCC is aware of are three confirmed crashes – one in July 2023, when a Continues Page 4
Eastbourne librarians, past and present, gathered to celebrate the service's 50th birthday, along with Mayor Campbell Barry (left) and members of the community.
Eastbourne Library celebrated fifty years of operation last week, complete with seventies outfits, a giant cake and a confirmation the library will continue for the foreseeable future. “The library has been held dear in the hearts of the community since it opened in 1974,” library manager Sam Voss said, adding that the contribution of former staff – many of whom were at the celebration – was huge. Testament to this was the welcome locals gave those returning to Eastbourne for the event. “Our work is not a chore in a community like this.” Mayor Campbell Barry donned a seventies-style vinyl jacket, sourced from a selection of Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe’s costumes, saying it was a great privilege to be at the birthday party. The library and staff were an important part of the local community, he said, but the service nearly didn’t eventuate, when then-Mayor eventuate. Then-Mayor Cliff Bishop, not a fan. of building the library, put a poll to the community to see if they would support funding it from rates, which would result in an increase for homeowners - as it turned out, most were in favour. “I know that it will continue for another fifty years and beyond,” Mayor Barry said.
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