THE NEW ESPLANADE

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 76, 27 September 1916, Page 8

THE NEW ESPLANADE

WILL IT AFFECT THE BEACH ?

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —May I ask your immediate assistance regarding the encroachment on tho Oriental Bay beach which appears to be intended in the work being carried out in the forming of the new esplanade ? Yesterday was a public school holiday, and the beach between Hay .and Grass streets was well patronised by poor children. Being interested in their fun, I w*ondered -where the line of the promenade wall was to be carried. After going to the Town Hall for information this morning, I »went to the beach and was much surprised to find the line of the wall was to entirely cut off all the beach above high-water mark, and, more, a peg had alread}' been placed far out in the water (at high tide) to give the builders the line to work to. Yesterday there were several prams, with 6mall family groups around them, having lunch on the beach above the high-water mark. Is the council justified in taking away this beach from the poor of our' city. As far as I can. see, there is not any reason for so doing. I have- gone very carefully over the ground this evening, i.e., the portion of the road in question, and find that if the same width of promenade (without the cycle track) as is in use by the boat harbour, no encroachment is necessary. At the narrowest point (just past B>oJ.ton's store) the inner footpath is 85 feet wide; the road from the curb to the outside of the present concrete blocks carrying the light-ing-poles is 56j feet—6s feet in all. So that to gain the object in view (minus the 12-foot cycle track) it would only require a 3-foot encroachment of the beach. The cycle track, is, I understand, being included into the promenade from the corner just beyond the Te Aro Baths onward. Now, an 18-foot promenade up lo this point has been found quite sufficient. Why include the width of the cycle track right on to this narrow point and sacrifice the beach? If the line as indicated by the pegs is carried out, we will have an unsightly straight wall; whereas by saving the beach and following the natural contour of the bay the promenade will be vastly improved. I recognise the great work our .City _sngineer is doing for the city in this part, but feel he has quite overlooked the value of this the only piece of beach near the city to which our poorer citizens' children can go without tram expense. It might be, considered that the curve at the foot of Grass-street would be. dangerous if curtailed, but I would point out that this would not be necessary. At this curve there is now 60 feet between the curb and the present corner light pillar, and ,a further 13 feet to the outer edge of'the present bank. If the citizens of Wellington realised what appeared to be the intention, I feel sure they would rise in a body and protest. No doubt there are arguments both ways, but no argument can compensate for the loss of this small and only piece of beach near the city. In a nutshell, let us have the inside, footpath' as it is, 8i feet; the road 41 j feet, and a promenade of 18 feet, doing away with the cycle track width on this narrow band, and save the beach. Trusting you will move in this matter at once (as they are already trenching for the wall extension) and inspire more able pens than mine to take the matter up,—l am, etc., P. N. DENTON. 26th September. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—At the eastern end of Oriental Bay, near Grass-street, there is a small piece of nice sandy beach, where on every fine day ladies can be seen sitting on the dry sand reading or knitting, while the children, down to the tiniest toddler, enjoy themselves paddling in the water and playing on the sand. In future this evidently is to bo stopped, as I notice by the pegs in position that the sea-"\yall just there is to run a considerable" distance below high-water mark, and it will be impossible to walk on the beach at all'except at low water or half-tide, and sitting" -there will be out of the question at any time,* as, of course, the sand will, always be wet. Is it not possible to place the wall there closer to the present road, which surely at that part it of ample width? I am quite sure that, even if wo had to do without a footpath on that side of the road, not a solitary citizen would begrudge -that, if it means preserving the small piece of beach for the women and children, who find it more convenient to go there at times, instead of journeying all- the way to Lyall Bay.—l am, etc., SHELL. 27th September.