During a tense and at times emotional session, the Dunedin City Council passed a motion to allow vehicle access to John Wilson Drive.

The subject of whether to re open the road has been passed around the council table for many years, and the general consensus of councillors is that they're sick of it.

Both councillors for and against opening the drive up to traffic between 11am and 2pm weekdays spoke passionately, with the Mayor calling for each councillor to record their vote out loud.

After more than an hour's debate the motion was carried by one vote splitting the council: 8 and 7 against.