WHANGAREI PARKING PLACES

Northern Advocate, 7 May 1930, Page 3

WHANGAREI PARKING PLACES

PRIVATE COMPANY'S IDEA. CENTRAL LOCALITY. ■Advice that private interests are moving with ia view to securing a much-needed parking place for Whangarei was contained in the following letter from Business Organisers, Ltd., received at the Borough Council mooting on Monday evening;— ‘‘We have been approached in regard to the formation of a company for the provision of a parking area in the borough. The site suggested has frontages to Rathbono and Robert Streets and comprises a large area sufficient to park approximately 300 cars. Before proceeding in this direction, however, we should like to know to what extent we would have the council’s co-operation in bringing forward a by-law prohibiting the parking of cars in certain streets.” Cv, Brake moved, find Or, Jackson seconded, that the company be informed that the council would from time to time prohibit parking in streets when traffic made this course necessary.

That the council should go further, was the opinion of Or. Brainsby, who moved as an amendment that the Mayor, Deputy-Mayor and Engineer report to the council upon the provision of parking areas, Or. Brainsby said that as . things wore the position was becoming very dangerous. In the main streets one Fa turday afternoon he had counted 108 ears parked, and at night time the numbers were, amazing. Everyone would welcome an area where cars could be left with comparative safety. At present. Whangaroi had no proper parking place and no regulations. The angle at which cars and motor lorrios parked left only half the street for the passage of cars. Cr. Gardner, seconding, considered the provision of a suitable area adjacent to the main streets very necessary.

Cr. Pickmere preferred the borough securing a parking place of its .own. The matter had been referred to the Works Committee a year before, but had not been satisfactorily dealt with, in the event of the private company obtaining a parking area it would mean that the public would not receive the .service- as cheaply as if the borough controlled it, as a profit would be aimed at. Provided a suitable area was provided, the car owners themselves would go olf the- streets without compulsion, ho thought.

Cr. Holmes was sure that a central parking area could be obtained at small charge. ’flic mover ami seconder of the amendment explained that they had no intention of committing the council to any private venture, but rather wished a general investigation to bo carried out. The amendment was passed.