BLENHEIM ROAD DEVIATION

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26409, 1 May 1951, Page 8

BLENHEIM ROAD DEVIATION

DELAY IN CALLING CONFERENCE EXPLANATION BY MINISTRY General agreement has been expressed by local bodies that a conference should be called on the forming of the Blenheim road deviation. Giving this information in a letter to the City Council’s housing and town planning committee, the district engineer of the Ministry of Works said he had delayed calling the conference until more information as to the Highways Board’s attitude over the Riccarton borough part of the deviation was available. He had been pressed by property owners fronting Blenheim road for some action to have the road formed. “It has been made to appear as though the Main Highways Board is delaying development.” said his circular. ‘This is not the case, and in point of fact the board has taken positive action in acquiring the land for a road which will serve as a relief to Riccarton road, as well as to give access to important industrial sites.” He recalled that 10 years ago the Board had agreed to bear the “lion’s share” of the cost of £62 000, and the Riccarton borough and Waimairi and Paparua counties had not agreed to contribute £6700. The only progress since made was the acquisition of land by the board. The council has askea to be kept informed of future developments, “as it is very interested in the construction of the road as an additional outlet to the city.”