ISLAND BAY REQUESTS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 132, 2 December 1930, Page 12

ISLAND BAY REQUESTS

PIER IN BAD SHAPE

A BATHING PAVILION ?

A deputation representing the Island Bay Electors' Association waited upon the Ecserves Committee of the City Council yesterday afternoon to ask that improvements should be made to the bathing shelter accommodation, that tho diving platform should be repaired, and also suggested that an up-to-date bathing pavilion should be erected on tho beach next year: a sketch plan and elevation embodying the association's ideas'in that matter were presented. The president of the,association, Mr. F. Lethaby, said .that they recognised j that the council was short of money, but it might be possible for certain urgent work to be done out of part of the Mayor's fund for the relief of the unemployed. The main requests were for repairs to the present bathing sheds, which the association considered totally inadequate, and their extension by 10 feet to give a total depth of 20 feet, to meet the demand as decently as possible during the coming season, repairs to roofs, showers, and foot baths, and better supervision over the sheds, particularly the women's sheds. A plan was submitted by Mr. H. C. Parsons, of a suggested pavilion to meet the needs of residents of the bay and visitors to tho beach, providing cubicles for women, and a, hall or caretaker's 'residence above tiro bathing accommodation proper. The estimated cost was £ 2050jY.whieh would be. considerably re'.c(ueed*f- to about £1500, were the ground' ; ':flopr only built, making provision for"; adding an upper floor in the future. The association would do its best to assist in raising the money, and suggested that consideration should be given the proposal in connection with next year's estimates. Councillor Meadowcroft remarked that all the beaches were in need of more accommodation for bathers, particularly at Evans v ßay. No matter how the present sheds were remodelled, said Mr. Parsons, in answer to Councillor Semple, they would still be far too small. ( Councillor B. G. H. Burn, chairman of the committee, admitted that the conditions were bad on all the beaches, but it was a matter of £ s d. The committee had no money available. What about the diving pier? asked a member of the deputation. They had been advised by the engineer that it would cost £150 to repair. It was standing on one leg only and a storm would wreck it. , That was so, said Mr. K. E. Luke, of tho engineer's department; only one log was now holding it. "Councillor Burn repeated that tho committee's difficulty was that it had no funds, though it realised as well as anyone how great was the need of more beach facilities. It would give careful consideration to the proposal for a pavilion and possibly might bo able to make some provision next year. The question of repairs to the diving platform would be 1/oked .into at once, for plainly the whole structure was threatened.