HIGH STREET

Grey River Argus, 18 July 1941, Page 3

HIGH STREET

Widening Operations At the Borough Council meeting last evening. Cr. H. Herring said he was decidedly averse to continuing the present widening job in High Street if the road were only to nave a width of 40 feet. He wished to quote some facts regarding the widths of Greymouth roads. He pointed out the inconvenience ol grass plots in the street for bus- and taxi passengers. He thought High Street should be made a real highway instead of a beauty spot. Cr. J’. B. Kent said the matter should be decided at the present meeting. He agreed with some of Cr. Herring’s views. He moved that leave be granted to reopen the matter, the motion being carried. Cr. Herring moved tfiat all work on High Street be suspended until the matters brought up had been considered, Cr. Kent seconding. Cr. Boustridge, opposing the motion, said it was only two weeks since the matter had been approved. The Engineer had done a good deal of work.

The Engineer said the fire plugs were on the grass verge in High Street.

Cr. Boustridge said that the street was to be wider than it had ever been. The bridge connecting High and Tainui Streets was 30 feet wide, and there had never been any traffic jams there. If the street were widened the present grass verges would have to be dug out to an extent of 18 inches, and metal foundations put in. Mackay Street, which carried most of Greymouth’s traffic, was only 14 feet wide and in it there never had been any suggestion of a traffic jam. In one instance, four cars passed together with ample room.

Cr. G. R. Harker said that he had lived in High Street for over 20 years, and had never seen there anything approaching .an accident. There was no excuse whatever for widening the street any more. Cr. G. M. Truman said that it was a matter of finance, and the Council could not do it. Cr. P. Blanchfield said Cr. Herring was trying to add another £6OO or £BOO to the estimates by widening the road. Cr. J. Saunders said at 40 feet wide, High Street was quite safe. He opposed the motion. Cr. /■. H. McKanc said that if it would cost more to widen the streel, it was not an opportune time to bring the matter up. Cr. Herring, replying to Cr. Boustridge’s statement that the road would be wider than ever, and that when an emergency arose, cars could drive on to the grass, pointed out that when the curb was put down this could not be done. He hoped that the work the Council was doing would not have to be pulled up when Councillors thought that the road was not wide enough. The motion was lost, Cr. Herring being the only supporter.