ANDREWS’ AVENUE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 299, 14 September 1937, Page 15

ANDREWS’ AVENUE

Criticism of Proposed Width of 100 Feet

The advisability of having a street of 100 feet width from High Street through the council’s land to the river stopbank was questioned by Cr. P. Dowse at last night’s meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council. This is the street that the council decided it would name Andrews Avenue in recognition of the efforts of the mayor in bringing to a satisfactory conclusion a deal with the .Rev. Father Daly regarding the acquisition of Catholic Church property alongside the proposed street. While appreciating what had been done by the mayor and the desirability of the acquisition of the land for the purpose in view, 100 feet seemed too great a width fqr the street, said Cr. Dowse. It was too much to be taken from the main street. As an example, it would be 20 feet wider than Randwick Road. He questioned the advisability of going. to that extent to provide parking facilities. There would be other streets at the back of it, and the widening of High Street would relieve the pressure. The Westtern Hutt Road would also assist to divert traffic.

The plan of the street had been before the council and adopted, replied the mayor, Mr. J. W. Andrews. It would be a civic centre. There would be an avenue in the middle cutting it into two. It would be used as an outward bus terminus both ways, and there would be diagonal parking. He agreed that 100 feet was a good deal of land, but the council’s townplanning officer had definite views on the point. Cr. Dowse moved that the matter be referred to the finance committee to secure a report from the town planning officer.

The mayor said there might be difficulty with purchasers and prospective purchasers. The Post and Telegraph Department had been promised 100 feet frontage to its new post office. The main street of the Government subdivision at Taita would be 140 feet. Cr. Dowse’s suggestion was agreed to.