OPEN-DRAIN PROPOSAL

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30085, 20 March 1963, Page 15

OPEN-DRAIN PROPOSAL

M.P. Protests To Board

There were too many open drains in the Papanui area already, said Mr H. J. Walker, M.P., writing to the Christchurch Drainage Board last evening to ask why it was proposed to build an open drain in the Grants road area. Residents had told him there had already been a number of serious accidents in open drains, Mr Walker said, so he was not surprised that residents were not prepared to grant a route for the con struction of an open drain. He was sure that even if there was some delay, a closed drain would be acceptable. Reasons which prompted the choice were given by Mr H. F. Page, the chief engineer (operations). He said it ensured the best land drainage. It would be on private properties. mainly along rear boundaries. There would be a relatively shallow drain. Piping would be extremely costly. A sealed pipe would provide relief only if ancillary open drains or field tile lines were installed to the affected properties. The board agreed to pass on Mr Page’s reasons to Mr Walker.