CAR PARKING IN CITY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 19 November 1937, Page 6

CAR PARKING IN CITY

BYLAW TO BE ENFORCED DECISION OF COUNCIL | FREE AREA ON PART OF MILLER"! SECTION j The Nelson City Council last nigh I decided to enforce forthwith the pro 1 vision of bylaw No. 13, 1931, relating t< the parking of motor vehicles in tin main streets. The chief purpose of the decision i: to enforced the clause which reads:— ! "From the hours of ft a.m. to (! p.m J (except on Fridays, when the pcrioc shall be extended to 11 p.m.l, no per- ! son shall leave or permit any vehielt (other than a bicycle) to remain stationary, whether attended or unaltend. for more than thirty minutes at any one time in Trafalgar street from the Church Steps to Halifax street, or in Hardy street from Col- ! lingwood street to Vanguard street. ! or in Bridge street between Collingwood street and Waimca street, or in 1 any other place where the width constructed for wheeled traffic is less than 23 feet (except if such vehicle ; be a motor vehicle in a place in such 1 streets appointed by the Council oy j resolution a.s a stand for motor vehicles, and then only during such hours as may be notified or indicated thereat).” Councillor J. A. Harley, moved the motion of which he had given notice: (a) That the provision of bylaw No. 13 (1931) relating to parking of motor vehicles in the main streets be enforced forthwith. (b) That Miller’s section be declared a public area for the parking of motor cars.

[■ j (c) That the Reserves Committee be . requested to beautify Miller’s section as s soon a.s possible. Councillor Harley said it was obvious E that the Council must have better control of the parking of motor ears in the main city streets. The bylaw passed in 1931 had never been enforced, probably because the Council had nowhere j to offer owners a.s a parking area, other than on the streets. Miller’s section was now available and at least half of s I it could be used immediately for parking. By the enforcement of the bylaw tradesmen would no longer be inconvonicncnd in delivering goods in the " main streets. The question of shifting the taxi stand had also been considered ’ by him, but until he saw the effect of | the enforcement of the bylaw, he would prefer not to take any action. He did not want the enforcement to apply to all the outer areas, but Wakatu Lane, jAlma Lane and other narrow streets should be left to the discretion of the I inspector. I In regard to Miller’s section Councillor Harley considered it was time the Council expended the £IOO so generously donated by Messrs Miller and I Co. Councillor E. R. Neale in seconding ! the motion said the Council had to face ■ the moving of the taxi stand, which was the main cause of congestion in Trafalgar street. He felt if the stand was ; moved and angle parking introduced i the matter would be solved. That sy.s- ---| tern was adopted on Lamblon Quay in Wellington where there was no difficulty. Councillor L. C. Pettit said that surely the Council would not allow angle parking in Hardy or Bridge street. He agreed that the time had arrived when parking restrictions should be enforced. A letter on the subject was then read. The Automobile Association (Nelson), wrote suggesting that the time had come for the enforcement of the half hour parking limit and advising that the Council would have the Associations support if any such action was taken. The Mayor (Mr G. L. Page) said he was afraid that it would take more than one Traffic Inspector to enforce the bylaw. He had been opposed to the proposal up to the present but now the Council had Miller's section he would support the motion. In regard to the other section of the motion, regarding the improvement of the section, the Council had done some work. Councillor G. P. Russell suggested that only part of Miller’s section be ; used for parking. The Council still had Halifax street which could be used for - parking. It was too valuable a section to use all of it as a parking area. He thought the Council could gain some revenue from part of the property. i Ssection (a) of the motion was then carried. Referring to (b) of the motion, Conn- I cillor Hurst wondered if it was to be a ] free parking area or if it was intended < to have a caretaker on the property, or lease it to a tenderer, for the Council ] to fix parking fees. In many places , charges were made for use of parking \ areas. There was the point that the • section would be used for motorists ( only. • s Councillor Harley said he had ah- ( solutely no intention of making a charge. It should be a free area to j get the cars off the streets. In that way non-motorists were being protected. The Mayor said it would not be neccs- s sary to use all the area. Part of the 1: section would be made into gardens. Section fb) of the motion was car- f ried and section (c) was carried without discussion. c

PARKING IN EXAMINER STREET The question of car parking in Examiner street was also considered by the Council. It was decided to prohibit parking on the northern side and io make improvements to the roadway oy the removal of grass and the sealing of tiie roadway to the kerb. The lime trees arc not to be removed. Councillor J. A. Harley, according to notice given previously moved: (a) That five lime trees and one cabbage tree on the south side of Examiner street be removed and the road be tar-sealed to the south kerb from Trafalgar street south to the western boundary of No. 2' property. (b) That parking of motor cars be prohibited on the south side of Examiner street from Trafalgar street south to Wniniea street. Councillor Harley said Examiner street was very narrow being only 21 feet wide in places. The lime trees on the south side constituted a danger to traffic if the parking of motor cars was permitted in the street. However parking should be permitted and so lie suggested it should be allowed on one side only. A number of the lime trees were the most beautiful of their type in Nelson and he would be extremely sol'r.v to see them removed. However his motion was an effort to have the present conditions improved and the pre-

sent danger eliminated, and he would be pleased if the trees could be saved. The Mayor seconded the motion pro forma. A letter was read from the residents of Examiner street protesting against the proposal to remove the trees from the street and to restrict parking therein. It was suggested that parking be allowed only on the southern side. The Arbor Day Committee also wrote protesting against the removal of the trees which were a valuable asset to the city. Mr I-I. G. Russell also wrote registering a protest against the proposed removal of the trees and agreeing to the suggestion that parking be allowed on the south side only. He also suggested that the road leading to the Cathedral could be used for parking. The Mayor said lie was against the removal of the lime trees though there were some cabbage trees which could go. Councillor McArthur moved that section (a) of the motion be amended by tiie deletion of the first five words. The amendment was seconded and carried. In regard to (b > Councillor Harley said he was in favour of parking on the northern side and not on the south side where there were four garages. The motion was seconded by Councillor Neale. Councillor McArthur moved that the motion be amended to read that parking be prohibited on that portion of Examiner street on the north side between Trafalgar street south and Mr Ivory’s residence.

The amendment was seconded by the Mayor and carried.