LEVEL CROSSING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 8, 21 October 1941, Page 3

LEVEL CROSSING

CLOSING AT KERMODE STREET. DECISION OF THE COUNCIL THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION Replying to the suggestion that the railway crossing at Kermode Street should be closed in keeping with the proposal of the Railways Department to reduce the number of crossings in the business area of Ashburton, the General Manager (Mr E. Casey) wrote to the Ashburton Borough Council last evening stating that' the project of establishing a stock route to the traffic bridge, in return for sanction for the closing of the crossing, did not appeal to the Department on the ground of the big expenditure involved. If the Council would offer material assistance in the construction of the stock route, the Department would consider that the scheme had taken a definite step forward.

The Mayor said it was a question whether a new stock route was desirable or whether the Council could declare a new route on existing roads. It appeared that not a great deal of stock travelled over the bridge. Mr H. G. Ferrier moved that the Department be asked to close the crossing and the Council find an alternative route. The suggested new route, an extension of West Street under the bridge, would be subject to flood damage.

The motion was seconded by Mr W. H. Sarney. Mr J. Thompson said he could not see where the benefit would come by closing the crossing. The Mayor said that the question of railway warnings came into it. The Department could not place warnings at all the crossings, and the closing of Kermode Street would create least inconvenience. Mr A. A. McDonald supported the motion, which was carried. The protest by Messrs Smith Brothers, threatening to take legal action if the crossing was closed, received some weeks and held over pending the Department’s reply to the Council’s letter, was again brought be* fbre the Council. It stated that the company) leased reserves on the west, side of the railway line, and the closing of the crossing would be a great inconvenience to the company.

The Mayor said this applied to every crossing, as there would be inconvenience to someone. This was the only protest received following the Council’s recommendation. The extra cartage that would be necessitated would be only about 200 yards. It was pointed out that the closing of the crossing would not deprive the company of the use of its siding on the reserve.

Mr W. S. Kerr moved that the company should be informed of the Council’s decision.

This was seconded by Mr E. C. Bathurst. /

Mr Thompson said he could not see that the closing of the crossing would benefit anyone one iota, hut it would create some hardship for the company which had protested. It would mean, too, that stock would have to be driven over the Moore Street crossing. Mr McDonald said the object of closing was to safeguard life, besides reducing the strain on the drivers of trains and aiding the safety of the passengers on the trains. The Mayor said that there was not one yard of visibility for car drivers approaching the crossing when trucks were being loaded there. Mr Bathurst said that drivers had their attention distracted from approaching danger by having to attend to surmounting the high ramp on which the railway line ran. I The motion was carried.