Opposition loud and clear

Bulls residents Keith Scott (left) and John Guinan.PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

More than 250 people attended a public meeting in Bulls called by the Rangitikei District Council over the possible relocation of the town's library and information centre.

The meeting on Monday night followed a petition with 375 signatures being presented last Thursday. The town has a population of 1600.

Resident John Guinan said the whole town had been horrified to learn last month that the council was proposing to move the information centre, library and large InterCity bus stop into a new retail development across the road on State Highway 1/Bridge St.

The council says the "co-location" of the two services in the new development is an option being considered, and any movement of the bus depot will be up to the bus companies.

Mr Guinan said there had been no consultation with residents,and that was what had prompted the petition.

"No one came to us. This is our town, yet we didn't matter. It was disgusting," he said.

The project by Wallace Development was due to begin soon, and both the library and information centre would be bigger, the council said.

Mr Guinan said if councillors had been in any doubt about how the townspeople felt before Monday night's meeting they would now be totally in the picture and aware of just how angry people were.

The petition of 375 signatures and a submission on behalf of the residents had swayed councillors to call Monday's public meeting, Mr Guinan said.

Graeme Platt, in his submission on behalf of the residents, said the lack of consultation, and lack of transparency had been deplorable.

At the meeting, though residents agreed the new Wallace Retail Development was great, there had not been any mention to them about moving the bus depot and the library, he said.

Said Mr Guinan: "So it would be a foolish council that voted in favour of moving them."

The council was meeting today to make its decision, Mr Guinan said.

"We actually said that maybe the decision on the proposal should wait until there is a new council.

"Well, they hated that idea and said, 'No way. This council would make the decision'."

Also in the pipeline were two Official Information Act requests to council.

The submitters want to see all information relevant to the decision to close the bus depot and library including copies of minutes of council, sub committees and community committees, correspondence, emails etc, telephone notes, copies of expressions of interest in the existing site and all public consultation.

Mr Guinan said the town was totally united and was hoping that today's decision would show the council had listened to them.

Council community and regulatory manager Michael Hodder said the possible shifting of the information centre and library was an agenda item at the meeting today and a decision may be made by council, but there were several options it will consider.

"No agreement has been made about co-locating the library and information centre - currently in different places - into the retail development."

He said moving the bus depot would be up to the individual bus companies, who use the information centre as a drop-off and pick-up point.

"The bus operators may well move.

"But the bus operators are under no duress; it's their call."