TARANAKI STREET WIDENING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 197, 18 May 1936, Page 5

TARANAKI STREET WIDENING

Completion of Work Urged VIEWS or FORIMER MAYOR The advisability of proceeding as ■ soon as possible with the widening of ' Taranaki Street was stressed in an interview on Saturday by Air. G. A. Troup, former Mayor of AVellington. “At tlie present lime Taranaki Street is T.’t'L Gin. in breadth.” said Air. Troup, and the proclamation placed upon it will make it S 4 feet in width. This street is at present very difficult for motorists to negotiate. Allowing 8 feet for footpaths on each side the actual width of the roadway is feet. With cars parked on each •side, which is generally the case between Courtenay Place and Vivian Street, it is practically impossible for two motor lorries to pass in the remaining space. If. as often happens, a lorry is pulled up beside a parked car the position becomes pretty hopeless.' "Something must lie done to obviate this congestion.” continued Mr. Troup. “Taranaki Street, as it is at present, is one of the most difficult thoroughfares to negotiate. In my frequent visits lately to the National Art Gallery and Aluseum, I have been able to make personal observations of the traffic conditions there. Beyond Vivian Street the position is not so bad. "Now that prosperity is returning and the number of motor vehicles is increasing, this street is becoming a problem. In view of the fact that the pioperties on the western side between Courtenay Place and A'ivian Street are owned by the City Council, I should think that the cost of widening that section would no. weigh so heavily on the citizens. At the present time the rentals from these properties should be paying the interest on the cost .of the , properties acquired. The enhanced value of the same, due to the widening process, should, I think, meet the larger part, if not the whole, of tlie cost of the operation. If, after widening, the properties were sold, sufficient funds would then be in hand to euable the council to purchase the land and proceed with the widening of that portion of "Taranaki Street between Vivian Street and Buckle Street without raising a further loan. "With the return of better times,” said Mr. Troup, “additional buildings, rising perhaps to a height of 100 feet, will be erected, creating the possibility of great danger should a serious' earthquake visit the city. The upper parts of such buildings falling into such a narrow street would certainly have disastrous results. Apart from such a more or less remote contingency, the traffic from larger buildings would only accentuate the present congestion.

“Negotiations concerning Buckle Street tire now being carried out with the Justice Department as regards tlie Alount Cook Police Station and the old cottage adjoining, so it is needless to say anything further about that. “Once Taranaki Street and Buckle Street are widened the whole of Te Aro flat would be ring-fenced by roads SOft. in width—namely, Taranaki ■ Street, Courtenay Place. Cambridge and Kent Terraces and Buckle Street. “In tlie whole of Te Aro flat there are some 70 lanes, alleyways, blind streets ami narrow streets. To remove these —which may be characterised as the darkest blot on Wellington city—is a task worthy of the stoutesthearted, and all honour to the Alayor and council who will have the courage to essay the task and so satisfactorily solve a difficult problem. During my last year as Alayor the task was essayed. A Bill was prepared for Parliament which included the principle of betterment. The opposition, however, <'n the part of laud-holders was too groat to allow the Bill’s admission to the Statute Book. AVith the depression ensuing soon afterward, no further action was taken, and there the matter remains. In the meantime factories ami business premises are taking the place of houses, making the problem more difficult and expensive ns time proceeds. I think that whoever solves this problem will be emtl’crring on I AA'ellington Ute greatest benefit of till time."