Permanent bus stops on Old State Highway 1 at Te Horo will remain at roughly the locations where temporary stops are now – not, as earlier proposed, outside Rod Clifton Motors.

In July, Rod told Ōtaki Today he would fight the proposal, saying the roadway outside his premises was too busy with vehicles coming and going.

Waka Kotahi and Greater Wellington have confirmed that the permanent bus stops will be in the same place as the temporary stops, with some adjustments.

“We received customer feedback regarding the width of the footpath at the northbound stop, which makes it difficult for people to access the bus,” an information sheet to residents said. “Therefore, we propose to move the bus stop south 30m where there is space at the back of the footpath.

“In addition, some minor changes will be required to meet KiwiRail’s requirements for access to their signals building near the southbound stop. Given the stable patronage from this stop, we also propose to install a shelter at the southbound stop.”

Waka Kotahi and GW said they had received feedback about the Rod Clifton site and acknowledged it could affect business activities in the area.

“We also received community feedback indicating a preference for the stops to be moved further north, closer to the Te Horo Beach [Road] junction.”

However, they said that considering road speed for safe pedestrian crossing and for buses to slow and pull into the kerb, an area where buses could pull off the road safely, and cars pulling out into the road from Te Horo Beach Road, a suitable position further north could not be found, as per the community’s feedback.

“Therefore, the confirmed location of the permanent bus stop for Te Horo remains in the current location of the temporary location, with some adjustments.