NEW BRIDGE OVER HEATHCOTE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25552, 21 July 1948, Page 4

NEW BRIDGE OVER HEATHCOTE

COUNCIL DECLINES REQUEST

FURTHER APPLICATION BY DRAINAGE BOARD

“It is quite evident that the City Council is not concerned with the drainage of Christchurch,” said Mr J. E. Jones at last evening’s meeting of the Christchurch Drainage Board, when a reply was received from the Town Clerk (Mr H. S. Feast) to a letter from the board advising that drainage improvement works in the Spreydon area could not be undertaken until the Heathcote river was widened and regraded, with the erection of a new bridge by the council at Colombo street. “The works committee of the council has directed me to advise that the construction of a new bridge there is not urgent from the council’s point of view,” wrote Mr Feast. “The committee feels that there are at least 12 bridges which should take precedence over the one proposed, and that its early construction could only be justified on account of the drainage problams confronting your board. “As the Building Controller has recently refused a permit for a new bridge at North Avon road, it is considered that a permit for a new bridge at Colombo street would also be declined. Even if a nermit was obtained, the limited supplies of cement and steel which are available would prevent the job being undertaken in the near future. “For these reasons, the work has not been included in the schedule of estimates for this financial year, but, should the position become easier, the committee will review the matter.”

“There is something wrong with this renly,” said the chairman (Mr H. G. Livingstone). “The construction of the bridge is urgent from the board’s ooint of view, because the present bridge forms a weir which holds uu the level of the river for a long way, and the river level cannot be lowered without a new bridge.”

The same conditions for drainage did not apuly at North Avon road as at Colombo street, he continued. Drainage conditions were more important than traffic problems, because the health of the peoole was affected. Mr J. E. Jones said he was “very disgusted” with the council’s reply. Money had been placed on the council’s estimates 10 years ago for the Colombo street bridge, which had priority because of the flooding of Eastern terrace and other areas.

Mr Livingstone: This area affects the site of a new hospital costing hundreds of thousands of pounds. Mr F. Robinson: Pos-ibly. the council is holding the bridge over till it get* control of this board. Mr W. P. Glup (who is chairman of the works committee of the City Council): T have no comment to make. (Laughtor.) On Mr Livingstone’s motion, seconded by Mr J. E. Jones, it w«s decided that the chairman and Messrs -T. E. Jones and R. Jones should confer with representatives of the council about the bridge.