SEA WALL AT REDCLIFFS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23743, 15 September 1942, Page 3

SEA WALL AT REDCLIFFS

COMPLAINTS ABOUT HEIGHT COUNCIL TO INSPECT WORK THIS MORNING On the motion of Cr. L. Gant, seconded by Cr. P. C. Fenwick, the Sumner Borough Council adjourned its meeting last night until this evening so that the council as a body could visit the site of the new sea wall at Monck’s Bay, Redcliffs, and discuss the position with a view to an alteration being made in the construction. Cr. Gant, speaking to the motion, said that many residents were complaining of the height of the wall, the view being obscured to pedestrians on the other side of the road. The wall was also being built dangerously near to the tram .lines, leaving only a very narrow footway. He contended that the surge could be stopped effectively with a wall 18 inches lower. Cr. Gant submitted figures given to him by a contractor, and he maintained that a new structure giving a minimum clearance of eight feet, instead of the original 3ft 6in from the tram, could be constructed at very little extra expense. Cr. Fenwick said that he had opposed the reduction of the electricity lighting charges which would have cost the council i.bout £450 a year, and he com sidered that members of the council, who had supported this reduction, might well expend a like sum on an improved wall. The wall was not a worthy work to the council. The Mayor: Two other local bodies are concerned in this and their engineers are very capable men. Their approval had been obtained, showing that what is being done is the minimum for safety. Cr. Gant: I appreciate all that the Mayor has done. If he had to work as hard to get the other two local bodies to contribute £2OO each as I have to get the extra money from this council, he must have used a lot of his time. The others will still, no doubt, pay the original amounts agreed upon. Cr. W. Machin: This proposal was brought forward as something urgently required and a desperate push for the protection of the Monck’s Bay road, and now it appears that the bay must be beautified. Before the council rescinds its original motion it must have plans and estimates, and not an elastic sort of arrangement. The council then decided to inspect the work at 8.30 o’clock this morning, the Mayor adjourning the meeting.