Denis Foot speaks out about the Johnsonville line.

Denis Foot 1-10-2006
A past Wellington City Councillor and
Wellington Regional Councillor, Denis Foot
has been a major contributor in Civic affairs.
Denis is also a fairly easy going man but recent
events have drawn him back into civic life.

Denis has maintained a watching brief on the city's affairs
since leaving local and regional government but talk about
closing the northern rail line has him on the offensive. He
can't believe that this section of rail, that has so well served
the Johnsonville community since the early part of last century,
is now being threatened by short sighted and unthinking political
people. "Just when we reach the end of cheap fossil fuel as
energy, they are wanting to close this rail line. How mad can you be
to just consider doing such a stupid thing?", he asks.

Denis, along with Jack Ruben and Peter Dunne, have formed
The Guardians For The Northern Line". Denis wants the whole
issue given more public exposure.

The Wellington Resident's Coalition

The Wellington Residents Coalition July 2006
(Champions for the people)

Recently the Wellington Residents Coalition held a
special meeting and resolved to adopt some important
changes in readiness for the 2007 local body elections .

The Residents Coalition has established a working group
to foster links with local communities and individuals.
It is seeking to compile an e-mail list of concerned citizens
who would like a regular news letter and update on local affairs
and issues that will impact on the community.

The Coalition is interested in building a fair and just society and
also in developing links with other groups with the purpose of
sharing important information about local and civic affairs.
You can contact the Residents Coalition by e-mailing Warwick
Taylor : warwick.weatherman@gmail.com

Peter Sharpe agrees with Tyre man

Peter Sharpe
Peter Sharpe said...
G'day Pepp,I agree whole-heartedly with this vein of reason. Of course the motor vehicle is a luxury and running one is fast becoming a luxury fewer people can afford.I'm reminded of a former National Party Candidate for Island Bay, back in the 1970s.Everyone laughed at his campaign cry of "Bring back the Trams!!"Apart from having the audacity to run against Labour's Frank O'Flynn in an horrendously safe seat, this man took to the soap box - literally!On the Hustings he could be seen and heard campaigning on street corners, shopping areas and just about anywhere he could plant his box & deliver his message.Everyone said he was mad, with his catch-cry of "Bring back the Trams".If only dear old Saul Goldsmith was alive today, how vindicated he would feel.I for one miss the likes of Saul.There are too many people branded eccentric (if they have money) or plain Mad (if they don't).These 'Societal Mad-men' as they have been branded often turn out to be visionaries and bang-on-the-money when it comes to predicting the future.I know full well the current gaggle of City Councillors will be branded too... but you don't endorse profanity, so I'll keep that to myself.

Tyre man says keep the Northern line

Vryn Evans July 2006

Newlands resident Vryn Evans is a colourful character
but blunt when it comes to speaking him mind. He is
a man who has a truth based world view.

Vryn has a historical memoryof a New Zealand where you
had to think carefully how you spent hard earned currency.
"As a child we caught trains everywhere", he said when I
recently spoke to him about the Johnsonville line and the
proposal to rip up the rails.

You might think that a tyre man wouldn't have
much time for rail but this is where Vryn Evans shows
a civic minded tradition of reflecting on the public
interest. He draws very clear distinctions between self-
interest and community interest.

Vryn Evans argues that we badly need to plan a 100 years ahead.
Looking past the present time of problematic oil and petrol
supply, he puts a strong case for public transport for daily
use and for the private motor vehicle going back to its earlier role
of intermittent recreational use only. We didn't use the family car
much when I was young.

While Vryn is without a doubt a car
enthusist he acknowledges that the options private transport offer
have a downside. Living post cheap oil means greater attention
needs to be given to energy efficiency and life style. Part of that
equation is rail and light rail as a people carrier, Evans argues.