Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1949. RAILWAY CROSSINGS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 119, 1 March 1949, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1949. RAILWAY CROSSINGS

The Mayor intends calling* a public meeting at an early date to discuss the dangerous situation at the level crossings in the town, and to decide on steps which should be taken to endeavour to have the danger eliminated or, at least minimised. Members of the Borough Council will doubtless attend, and the Chamber of Commerce has urged its members to be present, but the matter is of such importance that whatever hall is chosen for the meeting should be packed. The council has made repeated representations to the Railways Department and to the Minister himself, but no satisfaction has been secured. It is high time the public got behind the council and made it clear to the Minister that something will have to be done. Whatever protest is made will have to be vigorous, and it should have the wholehearted backing of the com - munity. When this matter has been under discussion on previous occasions various suggestions for minimising the danger have been put forward, but none has found favour with the Department or the Minister. We have argued that a reduction in the speed of trains from the south would be one way of lessening the danger, and it is a sensible and practical method. A member of the Chamber of Commerce thinks otherwise, his contention being that while there are crossings there will always be accidents. That may be true, but the slower the approach of a train to any crossing, the greater the time available to a motorist, cyclist or pedestrian to get away from the danger, and the greater also will be the ability of the driver of the train to pull up. The speed of trains is one of the big factors in the problem. The erection of warning devices such as bells and wig-wags has also previously been discussed, and the official answer has been that sufficient devices now. exist. It has to be shown to the Minister that such is not the case. The public will have an opportunity, when the meeting is called, of having a say, and it is essential that the opportunity should be fully availed of.