PETONE TRAFFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 120, 17 November 1936, Page 8

PETONE TRAFFIC

IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTED

MAIN STREET CONGESTION

A memorandum on the control of traffic in Petone has been drawn up by Mr. J. Huggan, a Petone Borough councillor, and circulated ,to other councillors. Mr. Huggan states that Petone had not yet given much study to-town or community planning, which was now recognised by leading engineers and traffic statisticians as being an importantfactor in the control of traffic. When widening was completed Jackson Street would have four good traffic lanes, but these would be of little or no value if all-day parking was allowed on both sides of the street. Double parking was quits common in this street, and at the present tune was retarding the traffic flow to some extent, not-perhaps very seriously, but in a manner that was increasing and leading to a big problem. At the same time, heavy traffic, such as shingle lorries, were using Jackson Street, when the use of the Esplanade would not only allay congestion, but would save wear and tear of Jackson Street, the cost of which was borne by the ratepayers, whlie the Esplanade is a matter for the Main Highways Board.

Zoning apparently had not been studied in Petone, and therefore there were factories and warehouses in residential streets. These-factories at?, tracted heavy vehicles, which offered checks to passenger vehicles and contributed to the dust nuisance. It was the result of bad planning or bad development control when industrial concerns had to be approached through residential streets, which should be free of dust, noise, and petrol fumes. Some years ago the Police Department had sole control of all traffic movements, but today each city or town had. its own traffic inspector or inspectors. The question then arose whether representations should not be made for a return to the old order. Mr. Huggan concluded with the following points:— Can any.planning be done in Petone that would assist in allaying congestion of traffic? What volume of traffic- can be diverted from Jackson Street? ; Sho.uld a time limit be placed' on parking of motor vehicles in Jackson" Street? Is not the time ripe for the appointment of a full-time traffic inspector for Petone? These points will be considered by the bylaws committee.