Roads Board’s Policy On Lyttelton Works

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30085, 20 March 1963, Page 6

Roads Board’s Policy On Lyttelton Works

The NeMaDat Boeds Board has declined an scqdicalion oy we idyweaton HWNMXir Board tor moMence towwds the cost of reaUgning the road from Norwich quay to No. 7 wharf; and has deferred an aGfidieatiion bgr the Lyttelton Borough Council tor a grant towards the widening of Norwich and GUdstone quaya. The board has suggested that the harbour board, the councM and the RaUwayD Departaaeot should discuss the whole widening project designed to give rood access to the wharves—a supplementary acbetne to the road tunnel. Advice of the board's decision was received by the council on Monday evening from the Distract Commissioner of Works (Mr E. C. Smart). .. The council’s awdaication had been supported by a re-' port from the Ministry of -Works, with a recommendation that a programme be approved for 1868-44 for the widening of. the first seven chains of Norwich quay up to and including the junction to the proposed reconstructed access to' the wharves. The first stage was estimated to cost £13,800, With the total estimated cost for Norwich quay widening being £BO,lOO. It was also recommended

to the Roads Board' that the I widening of Gladstone quay : should be begun in 4963-44. with *an expenditure ot £10,009 towards the total estimated cost of £23.706 for a 38ft carriageway and, £32.000 tor a 48ft carriageway. Harbour Beads Sn declining the harbour board's application, the Roads Board said it was against its policy to subsidise internal reading within the. jurisdiction ot harbour boards. Instead, it had decided to ask the parties to, reach agreement on the reading realignment and junction with Norwich quay and the sharing of the cost, which would facilitate commencement of widening Nor-, wich quay itself. As the council’s proposals for the first stage in Norwich quay were dependent on agreement being reached over the access road to No. 7 wharf, the board deferred a decision on the extent of assistance above the basic fate of £3 for £4. It was prepared to consider special assistance towards the widening of Gladstone quay when the parties had reached agreement I Mr Smart told the coun-' cil it could be understood that the board had accepted the need for the first-stage proposals tor Norwich quay, but considered that more intonnation on its use by traffic should be obtained for the ; remaining section. The' board also thought that a i prohibition of parking and some minor work might be sufficient tor the remaining section.

The Minister of Works (Mr Goosman) has written to the harbour board and the Roads Board and has asked the General Manager of Railways (Mr A. T. Gandell) to take part in the discussions. The council decided that the Roads Board decision and the reports should be referred to its finance committee with power to act.