Local Body Liaison

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30233, 11 September 1963, Page 7

Local Body Liaison

Sir, —Outside the intermediate school in Kirkwood avenue is an inspection cover cunningly set several Inches below the road surface and in the nearside wheel-track of a car travelling west. Preliminary inquiries disclose another example of the “buck-passing” so prevalent today. The Waimairi County Council apparently cannot insist that the Drainage Board instal its man-holes to co-, incide with previously formed surfaces. So, until either or both of these two local bodies meet this hazard to road safety, limb and life, we must presume that nothing will be done to remove this menace. What a pity that an atmosphere of harmony and willing co-opera tion can not be inculcated between the various local utilities, particularly when it comes to advising their contractors where to expect Post Office and electric mains, which would save the paying public considerable money, time, and inconvenience.—Yours, etc., D. BROWN. September 2, 1963. [The chief engineer (operations) of the Christchurch Drainage Board (Mr H. F. Page) replies: "In reply to your correspondent’s letter in regard to a low manhole top, I am not aware of any previous complaint having been made in regard to this. Admittedly the top should be raised and I understand the Waimairi County Council has this in hand. It is always the board’s practice to set manhole tops to the requirement of the local authority at the time of construction, but sometimes later road alterations affect this position. This appears to have been the case at Kirkwood avenue. I can assure your correspondent that ‘harmony and co-opera-tion’ are not lacking between the technical staffs of those bodies responsible for the

public utilities. For a considerable time there has been an agreed plan between the bodies concerned as to the location of the various services in roads. However, this aspect does not appear to be revelant to the complaint.”]