CHARLES STREET.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19666, 9 July 1929, Page 13

CHARLES STREET.

WIDENING PROPOSAL. After a brief discussion last night the City Council decided not to widen Charles street at present, although a report suggesting that such should bs don© was made by the Works Committee.

The committee reported: At a recent meeting of the Council, Cr. Andrews asked that the committee give consideration to the question of providing on the current year's estimates for the widening of Charles street. This street is 100 links wide between Wilson's road and Osborne street, and 75 links wide from Osborne street to Ensor's road. Mackenzie avenue, which continues from tho end of Osborne street, is 100 links wide. In the opinion of the committee it is desirable that Charles street should be widened, as it affords a relief road to Ferry road.. It is suggested that the widening should be carried out to a dtsptu of. eight feet, on the south side, on which side widening to this depth has already been carried out for a distance of lb"s feet. On the basis of 7s 6d per foot frontage, the estimated cost of the necessary land is £268 10s, the amount in each case including the cost of refeneing. The estimated cost of forming the wider road is £327, making a total of £595 10j, and the committee recommends that this amount be placed on the current year's estimates. Cr. D. G. Sullivan said that there was no need to widen the street, to do which would represent an unwarranted expenditure of public money. He hoped that the clause would be taken back by the Committee.

Cr. E. H. Andrews said that he did not iesire that the road should be widened at present, but felt that the opportunity should not now be lost to acquire land for the purpose of widening the road later. He felt that Charles street would one day be a rival.to Ferry road in the quantity of traffic carried. It was agreed to take the clause back with a view to going into the question of negotiating for the acquisition of the land referred to.