TRANSPORT REPORT

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31042, 23 April 1966, Page 18

TRANSPORT REPORT

Long Delay Denied

Criticism of the time taken by the Transport Department in furnishing its report and findings on a suggested 30-miles-an-hour zone at the Prestons road-Marshland road intersection voiced by Cr. D. B. Rich at a meeting of the Waimairi County Council on Thursday evening was unfounded, the department's district officer (Mr. D. L. Hogan) said yesterday. Cr. Rich had no justification for saying there had been a delay of 14 months, he said. Mr Hogan said the matter first came to the department’s attention on March 8, 1965. “On that date we received a letter from the Marshland School Committee referred to us by the Waimairi County Council. It was signed by Cr. Rich as secretary of the committee. In a covering letter the council asked for a report on the matters raised in the committee’s letter," Mr Hogan said.

“Six points were raised in the letter, including a request for a 30-miles-an-hour restriction in this part of Marshland road. A full report was made to the council on all points on March 18.

“Nothing further was heard from the council until April 5, this year, when a further letter from the school committee asking that a restriction be placed on Marshland road near Prestons road was referred to us by the council,” Mr Hogan said. “The department reported to the council on April 7, and once again advised against a 30-miles-an-hour restriction.

“On Thursday Chief Traffic Officer A. Goldsmith received a request through the council’s traffic committee clerk from Cr. Rich for the date of the survey and the figures recorded in it. That same day the chief traffic officer gave the clerk three copies of the survey report and verbally explained to him for Cr. Rich’s information the methods used for assessing 30-miles-an-hour areas and limi-ted-speed zones,” Mr Hogan said.