LOGAN PARK SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 23725, 5 November 1940, Page 10

LOGAN PARK SERVICE

BUSES REPLACE TRAMS DURING REPAIRS ID BRIDGE A faint echo of tho bus v. tram controversy was. heard at the meeting of tho City Council last night when Cr H. L. Gibson, as chairman of the Tranisport Committee, tabled a motion asking that permission be given to that committee to suspend the Logan Party tramway service during the period necessary for repairs to be made to the Forth street bridge and to run a bus service right through from Lookout Point to Logan Park.

Cr Gibson said that he regretted, in view of the promise given to the Commissioner of 'Transport regarding the restriction of tho use of petrol, having to ask for such permission, but it was a question of urgency ; indeed, all the material was ready for the repairs to the bridge to proceed. While tho job was on it would not bo possible to take trains over the bridge, and tho committee saw no other way out of tho difficulty except by running buses as was suggested. Cr J. AVilson seconded the motion. It was, he said, a matter of urgency, and the council could no longer take full responsibility in regard to the stability of the bridge. In reply to Cr 11. Walls, Cr Gibson said that the route which would be taken by tho bus would be the same as the present tram route, except that it would branch off from Castle street into Union street, and round by the University.

Or J. Al'Crae said that he did not oppose the alteration brought about by the necessary alterations to the bridge so long as facilities were given to passengers to get across by way of a footbridge. He considered, however, that there was no necessity to upset the present tram service to the bridge. It would bo quite easy to run buses from that point to Logan Park to meet the traffic on Saturdays. Cr AVilson explained that it might take 12 months to complete the work at the bridge. There would be no great trouble to construct a timber footbridge for the convenience of residents of the district.

Cr Cameron said that they had to consider the matter of carrying on the service to Logan Park, not only on Saturdays, in order to cater for the people in that area. Cr Smith asked how far people would have to walk from the bridge in order to get to their homes on the other side of it.

Cr Gibson said ho was not going to argue the point. He and his committee had satisfied themselves that it was not a fair thing to run a car only to the bridge when some people would have to walk half a mile from that point. Further, it would cost something like £250 to £SOO to construct a cross-over for the returning trams. The Mayor said that it would be necessary to obtain permission from the Transport Authority for the change, hut application could he made at once. The motion was carried.