North Road Widening

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32351, 17 July 1970, Page 14

North Road Widening

Because of financial considerations, it was not possible to widen the Main North Road through Belfast to a chain and a half. Construction would proceed on the chain • and -a - quarter scheme, the Ministry of Works informed the Waimairi County Council at its meeting last evening. The council, which earlier had expressed dissatisfaction with the proposal, asked its chairman (Mr D. B. Rich) and Crs I. Calvert and W. T. Rice to go further into the question. The Ministry’s letter said that while higher standards were undoubtedly attractive for road users and residents, the amount of money available for motorway construction nationally was such that the greatest amount of construction must be done for the minimum cost. “In this case, a lower standard of construction will be adequate for quite a number of years, and will enable a more realistic decision to be made as to whether extra expenditure on widening to one chain and a half is justified before the motorway construction is carried out," the letter said.

Telegram Received The council also received a telegram from the Minister of Works (Mr Allen), who, as chairman of the National Roads Board, referred to the open

drain on th* highway. While It would be better to pipe the I drain, thie work was primarily one for the local bodies, but the board was prepared to pay >(000 towards the cost of plpfng, he said. The council authorised discussions with the Drainage Board to see If a joint approach could be made to the National Roads Board, and to seek, If necessary, the help of Mr H. E. L. Pickering. M.P. Play Centre.— -In agreeing to do structural and other work at the Northcote hall, the council ’ decided to tell the Northcote , Play Centre that as the life of the building was limited, no future maintenance would be done, but a site for a play centre would be made available ' on the Dunedin Street reserve. 1 Drains.— The Drainage Board I wrote saying that only half its $130,000 loan for work on drains had been sanctioned. It was proposed now to spend $Bl,OOO ion the following drains, In order of priority:—Sturrocks Road. Barnes Road. Clarldges 1 Road, Hlghsted Road. and I Donald's drain. Work on > Withells Road drain could be done If the priority jobs were ■ delayed.

Flat.—Mr G. M. Bennett, 57 Greers Road, was given permission to convert a basement garage into a flat for a relative, conditional upon his entering Into a $5OO bond that use would revert to a garage when no longer needed as a flat, and on the provision of damp-proofing and adequate lighting and ventilation Ham Parking.— A meeting was! arranged for July 27 with University of Canterbury officials I to discuss the possibility of finding more oil-street parking for. staff and students at the Ham site. Building Permits.— ln June. 178 building permits worth $844,631 were Issued, compared with 124 permits for work worth $696,483 tn June. 1969. The main decline was for commercial buildings, down from $215,421 to $97,521 Provincial Buildings. The council agreed to pav $2033 to the Provincial Building Fund on the understanding that It would be the first of five annual payments. A man tn the gallery asked permission to speak, and when told he could not. but could be heard by a committee. Isald: ‘'You’ll hear from me."