ONE TERMINAL FOR ALL BUSES AT WHAKATANE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 23, 10 August 1949, Page 5

ONE TERMINAL FOR ALL BUSES AT WHAKATANE

The urgent need for some provision to be made for a central bus terminal at Whakatane was stressed by a deputation from the Whakatane Chamber of Commerce, which waited on the Whakatane Borough Council this week. With the m- / crease of bus traffic to the town and to the outer districts speakers emphasised the urgency of a central ■depot, which would provide an organised stop for all companies and keep vehicles off the streets when not in use. Whakatane was growing rapidly , and the bus services were expanding .at the same rate, the leader of the deputation, Mr B. Butler, pointed out. At central terminal to provide some place from which all buses could operate was required. This would also include the N.Z.R. Road , Services. . Mr Butler said that two possible ' sites had been selected but , were found unsuitable. There w”as the children’s play ground opposite the Commercial Hotel but this was not big enough and was not favoured : by bus proprietors. The other was i } at the western end of the town on the banks of the river, but because of the new town planning scheme nothing definite could be decided on •any land there at present. If a terminaliwas adopted who ■ 1 would be required to establish and run it, the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, wanted to know. Mr Butler: I think the organisation would be left to the Borough 'Council but they would charge each bus company so much for the use of it. Similar to the present scheme now operating at Auckland. Mr Barry said the Council was .aware of the problem but nothing could be decided until the town planning scheme was finally adopted.

An area behind the Borough Council Chambers on reclaimed land would be an eminently suitable position, the other member of the deputation, Mr R. Whittle, suggested. Entrance could be made from Commerce Street and another direct from the end of the Strand. Mr Barry: The Council is considering turning that portion of land into a parking area. Cr R. T. Morpeth: This is one aspect of parking, as a terminal would take buses off the streets an leave more space there for parking. I think that provision should be made for a bus terminal in the town planning scheme. Buses should not be allowed to park for long periods on the streets now, Mr Barry said. He thought that proprietors should have their own private parking areas off the ! streets. Agreeing with the Mayor Cr Morpeth considered however, that it was still desirable to have a central terminal. Mr Barry: It will be a bus terminal but it won’t be a place where buses can be left to park for long periods. The whole question was wrapped up in the reclaiming of land and in the town planning scheme, Cr R. Buttimore declared. Mr Barry pointed out that the Council had considered the question and he indicated that provision for' a central bus terminal would be made in the final town planning scheme.