CITY “BOTTLE NECK”

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 42, 13 November 1936, Page 6

CITY “BOTTLE NECK”

Door Still Open for Widening of Hunter Street

PRESENT BY-LAW CONFIRMED

A recommendation that the bylaw fixing a building line on the south side of Hunter Street, between Featherston Street and Customhouse Quay, to provide for widening the street to 66 feet Ive repealed, and that no further action be taken to widen the street, was made to the Wellington City Council last night as a result of a joint meeting of the works and bylaws committees. The committees suggested, however, that when new buildings were erected on any corner section of the street provision should be made for a suitable area to De splayed back as required by the city engineer.

The report was presented by the chairman, Cr. IV. Appleton, who said that although the latest recommendation of the city engineer was that the street should be widened by 10 feet and not by 16 feet, making the width 60 feet, file majority of the councillors present at the meeting had come to the conclusion that there was no necessity to widen the street. They considered that if the parking of motorcars was prohibited in the street there would be ample space for all traffic. It was true that there was a tram-line in the street, but. that generally speaking, was only used for emergency purposes. Not more than half a dozen trams a day went along the route. A great deal had been made of the point that with the opening of the new railway station a larger volume of traffic would come up Featherston Street, and because of the congestion at the Bank of New Zealand corner, would then turn into Hunter Street. Most of the traffic, he considered, would proceed by Waterloo Quay and along Jervois Quay, and not. tip Featherston Street at all. In any case, people who went along Featherston Street would probably want to go up Willis Street, and ft was just as easy to proceed along Willis Street via the Bank of New Zealand corner as it was to go into Customhouse Quay and then up Willis Street. There was a certain amount of congestion at. the bank corner, but that in some degree was due to the signalling system.

Figures had been submitted by the city vainer, said Cr. Appleton, giving an estimated cost of £ll.OOO for the acquisition of a 10-foot. strip from Featherston Street to Customhouse Quay. "While that was on the basis of £llOO a foot, he ventured the opinion that £ll,OOO would not nearly cover the cost. The Central Hotel corner site had changed hands at a figure which he was reliably informed was in the vicinity of £35,000. He had no doubt at. all that the city valuer's estimate was fair, but. they had to consider what it. would cost the city before the land was acquired. It would probably moan costly litigation. “It is regrettable,” said Cr. Appleton, “that when land has to be acquired for city purposes Citizens too often seem to look upon the council as a good milch cow. and I am afraid that if the matter went before the courts the city valuer's estimate would be very largely exceeded. Another difficulty is that, while it might be possible to obtain finality now in regard to the hotel corner, the council might have to wait for years before it caji get the rest of the land.”

Summing up the position. Cr. Appleton sairl lie considered the expense involved would not be at all warranted. He could see no reason why the city should have to provide space for the parking of motor-cars. Sooner or later, lengthy parking of cars in the main streets would have to be prohibited, and it was just as well lo face the position now as far as Hunter Street was concerned. On the day when the two committees visited Hunter Street cars were parked on both skies, and it was interesting to note that, in a space of 23 minutes only one car went through the street. Widening Necessary. Cr. M. F. Luckie said that he bad not altered his opinion that it was absolutely necessary for the council to widen the street, which was a real hottie neck. “We will regret it all our lives if we do not take advantage of this opportunity,” said Cr. Luckie. The mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, said that they should look at. the matter with very creat care. Once the by-law was repealed they could not retrace their steps. Hunter Street was only 50 feet wide. If it was widened traffic would be diverted from Willis Street and Lambton Quay into Victoria Street, thus relieving congestion. He thought it would be a retrograde step to repeal the by-law, and destroy for all time the chance of widening the street.

Cr. T. Brindle. M.L.C.: It is our duty to extend the spaciousness of the city streets. That applies particularly to Hunter Street. . . . We will have to do something and it seems to me the best way to relieve Willis Street is via Hunter Street and Victoria Street. Cr. A. Parlane said he was strongly in favour of widening the street. Traffic would continue to grow, and the council would have to provide lanes to carry it. If we let this chance slip the city will be saddled with a very heavy expense in a very few years.” he said. Cr. R. A, Wright. M.P.: lam not supporting the widening of Hunter Street. Cr. W. Dunean: 'What’s wrong with you ? Cr. Wright: Nothing is wrong with me. 1 say there is no evidence that widening the street will prevent accidents or relieve congestion. No one can say when the whole street will bo done. The mayor: You admit it’s desirable, though? Cr. Wright: I am not admitting anything? The mayor: Cr. 'Wright’s argument is that the work can’t be done quickly enough so lie won’t do it at all. Cr. Wright said it was useless to talk of relieving congestion through Victoria Street. That street was crowded now. Parking Cause of Congestion. The mayor: Slop the parking there, that causes the congestion. Cr. M’right: Stop the parking! If, seems to me wo will stop the parking everywhere in Wellington soon. The mayor: That will come in time, too. Cr. Wright said Wellington seemed lo throw money about on street widening. Larger cities did not spend nearly so much. He mentioned Sydney. The mayor: They have decided to spend a million widening Martin Place. Cr. Wright: They haven’t decided to widen George Street. Cr. Brindle: They can’t do them all at once.

Cr. Wright: They are not attempting to. They have sense over there. Cr. A. Black said the advantage of widening had never been domonstrated convincingly to him. Accident statistics showed that it was not in the narrow part of the street fhat accidents occurred. Cr. C. 11. Chapman, M.P.. said he trusted that the council would look to the future, and that whenever an opportunity occurred lo widen a street it would be taken. They had an opportunity now to widen Hunter Street. The committees’ recommendation was

defeated by 7 votes to 6. The division list is as follows: — For. Against. Appleton Brindle Black Chapman Gaudin Duncan Huggins Luckie McKenzie Parlane IVright Read Hislop “The position is that the existing bylaw, which provides for a 66-foot street, stands,” said the mayor. "There i s . a proposal, however, that it silmul'd be fixed at 60 feet. That will require a special resolution." The amendment to in,'ike the by-law 60 feet will come before the council next Tuesday.