SUBDIVISION OF ESTATES.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10759, 12 September 1900, Page 6

SUBDIVISION OF ESTATES.

THE GRESFORD PROPOSALS

(BY OCR SPECIAL REPORTEK.)

Tire manner in which the Gresford estate, situated in the south-eastern corner of the borough of St. Albans, has been subdivided for sale does not appear to be considered by a number of residents in the locality and others as the best possible scheme, and in order to get at the "ins and outs" of the matter a representative of "The Press" had a brief interview with Messrs T. H. Davey, Mayor of St. Albans, and Mr H. S. Brown', auctioneer for Messrs Charles Clark and Co. Mr Davey said that the first plan submitted to the Council showed a road connecting Edge Ware road with tlie North belt, the widening oi the North Avon road to make it a full chain wide, instead of, as at present, half a chain, and for two cross roads from Hill's rood to the western boundary of tbe estate. These cross roads could not, however, be carried through to Fitzgerald street to form continuations of Canon and DeUn streets respectively, because directly opposite tbe srreete mentioned the sections had been sold, and houses were built on tbem. The Council considered' it would be inadvisable to have what would practically be blind streets, as to get to them from Fitzgerald street would necessitate

walking half round the block; and suggested to the owners of the estate that the difficulty could be overcome by purchasing the sections with houses which prevented the roads being made through.

In an interview with Mr Brown and the surveyors, Mr Davey and one of the borough councillors,* on hearing tbat the estate had mo power to purchaee the sections and houses, suggested that something in the nature of an exchange might possibly be man&ged by offering to remove ths houses on to adjacent vacant sections. The representatives of tbe borough suggested tha. the owners should submit another plan, and this waa done, the plan showing a cross street, between Hill's road and Fitzgerald street, almost equi-distant from Edgeware road and tbe North belt, but, of course, connecting with neither Dean nor Canon streets. The Council, however, held that it would not be right in the interests of the ratepayers to sanction such a road. Whilst tlie matter was under discussrion a petition was received from the residents of HHl's and Edgewaie roads, asking the Council, before sanctioning the plans of the subdivision, to insfet on the widening of both roads. This request the Council looked upon as a selfish one on the part of tbe petitioners, and they declined to entertain

the pr.po.al. Where money had been spent by tbe Council for widening roads in tbe borough—Crescent road, for instance— it had been spent to benefit all, and not for selling purposes. Tbe owners of Gresford appeared to feel that th? conditions were somewlia* harsh, but the Council was very anxious to see the land cut up, and had no desire to deal harshly with the owners; on

the other hand, they had to see that the proposed roods would be of the greatest possible convenience to the people who would have- to uae them. The Council desired that the sections should be suitable and the roads convenient, and there was no reason why the owners of the estate should not even yet approach the Council, as its desire was to do tbe fair and right thing.

Ifc ted been said that tbe sections, which prevent the cross roads beins; constructed to connect with Dean and Canon streets, were purchased and built on for speculative purposes in view of the estate being cut up a>rtd the sections required for roads. The Council held that it would never do to be committed to that principle, as in years to come the Council would have to bnv. at prohibitive prices, the sections and buildings on them if such were required to complete street connections.

"Mr Brown detailed the correspondenoe that had taken place on the matter with the Borough Council, and described the proposals of the two different plans submitted for the Council's approval. The first plan, showing a ro_d throueh the centre of the block and two cross roods almost connecting with Dean and Canon streets, and the widening of the North Avon road, practically meant that the Council would have received a road area of six acres, of the value of £1200 or thereabouts, and with formation and metalling these roads would have represented a total value of close on £2250 — an amount th* owners were prepared to give to the Council. But not content with what to Mr Brown appeared a liberal offer, the Council refused to sanction the plans nnJess tbe sections with houses blocking tbe connection with Canon and Dean streets were purchased and handed over. It would have cost to purchase the properties over one thousand pounds, and this expenditure the owners somewhat naturally did not feel incbned to incur.

The owners had been quit© prepared to construct the cross roads to the present boundary of the estate, leaving the Council to take the necessary steps under the Public Works Act to acouire th. sections required to complete the street connections. Though some of the councillors favoured the first plan, the majority were against it, and much the same thin? took place when the second plan wa. submitted. Mr Brown considered that the present subdivision, though it will not. he expects, interfere with the sale of the land, will be bad for the district. It certainly will not affect tho price. On the other hand, if it had been subdivided as originally intended, the „ectioa«* would have been more from a rating standpoint. He estimated that the Council wculd have been able to collect double the rates under the first proposed subdivision as compared with the pre_cnt subdivision. Tlie widening of the North Avon road, which the owners of the estate tmdertook to do, was a most necessary and desirable work, and would have to be undertaken without doubt at no distant date. One corner at present was very dangerous, and several accidents had occurred in its vicinity.

In connection with the widening of existing roads, Mr Brown referred to the local Act which has been in force in Wellington for some time, under which the owners on both sides of the street to be widened are called upon to contribute to the cost of the acquisition of the necessary land for the purpose, and ventured the opinion that similar legislation would soon be required in the vicinity of C-uistchurch.