Help stop AT speed bumps on Ti Rakau Dr

As the Eastern Busway project continues to make progress, with the Pakuranga to Botany stage and the Reeves Road Flyover set to start construction soon, Auckland Transport (AT) are sadly trying to add several speed bumps along Ti Rakau Drive. Calling them “raised safety platforms”, their most recent design plans include these speed bumps at each of the bus stations planned for Ti Rakau Drive. These would be located near the Reeves Road intersection, the Edgewater Drive intersection nearest Chevis Place, and the Gossamer

Drive intersection, and would serve no purpose but to unnecessarily slow traffic down.

The designs for these bus stations already include proper traffic management, so adding a speed bump will do nothing to improve safety for those wishing to catch a bus, and instead only hinder those driving their cars.

This is typical of AT’s approach to transport in recent years, spurred on by policies initiated by the Labour Government who seem intent on making drivers miserable and forcing them out of their cars.

East Auckland already suf- fers from some of the worst congestion in Auckland, and the community justifiably rallied against a similar, crazy proposal to install a speed bump on Pakuranga Road. Fortunately, in that case, AT saw the light and cancelled that proposal, and I am hoping another community effort can get them to change their minds on the Ti Rakau speed bumps as well.

Last week I launched a petition calling on AT to stop these three speed bumps, with nearly 2000 of you already signing it.

If you agree these speed bumps would only make a further mess of traffic in

MP for Pakuranga Simeon Brown

Pakuranga, without providing a real benefit in return, please sign the petition at simeonbrown.national.org. nz/tirakaucrossings.

The Eastern Busway is one of the most important transport projects in Auckland and one our community has waited more than a decade for. It is imperative we get it right and do not get bogged down with speed bumps that, frankly, would make the expected congestion improvements from this project obsolete. Please sign the petition and send AT a clear message: stop trying to install speed bumps on our main roads!

School pupils allegedly robbed at gunpoint

Police are investigating after two males were reported to have approached several secondary school pupils in Clevedon and demanded money and their mobile phones.

A police spokesperson says officers were alerted to the incident in Clevedon Road at about 2.37pm on March 16.

“One [of the males] has allegedly presented a firearm during the incident.

“The offenders have absconded with the students’ phones in a white or silver station wagon being driven by a female.”

A letter from a local school addressed to parents and caregivers about the incident has been shared on social media.

It states the two students disembarked from the school bus at Clevedon and were waiting to be picked up by their family from the Clev- edon Village Hall.

“While they were waiting, they were approached by three people who demanded their money and phones, and one of them revealed that they were carrying a gun.

“Thankfully, the students involved in this incident are safe and weren’t physically harmed.”

The letter says the incident has been reported to police, who are investigating.

“We are hopeful that the perpetrators of this crime are caught as soon as possible.”

People who witnessed the incident should contact police by phoning 105, or go online to www.105.police. govt.nz using ‘Update Report’, and quote the file number 230316/0760.

Alternatively, phone the free and anonymous Crimestoppers tip-off line on 0800 555 111.