NEWMARKET ROADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20536, 10 April 1930, Page 13

NEWMARKET ROADS.

WIDENING STATION STREET.

OBJECTIONS TO PROPOSAL.

SANCTION FOR LOAN SOUGHT.

Two objections to its proposal to npply to the Local Government Loans Board for sanction to borrw £30,000 for the widening of Station Street were received by tho Newmarket Borough Council at its meeting last evening. After discussion it was decided to forward tho objections to tho board with tho proposal. Tho first objection was from Mr. E. V. Blake, ft ratepayer, who contended that tho proposal to widen Station Street was not iti accordance with townplanning principles. It was not customary or desirable to feed heavy traffic into a congested shopping area as such as Broadway, which was likely to dovelop into an industrial locality, while a lino of traffic should not bo encouraged to cross a stream of other traffic in a bottleneck.

Mr. Blako stated that the lay-out of tho tramlines and tho concrete road would create a danger point if a ieedor road were introduced at this point, where congestion would be inevitable. A better routo would bo obtained by putting a road through from Crowhurst Street to the Great South Road. Increased indebtedness would result from piecemeal expenditure without a general survey of all tho requirements of tho district.

Piecemeal Schemes Opposed.

The other objection was lodged by the technical group of the Auckland TownPlanning Association. "I am directed to draw your attention to tho inadvisability of permitting piecemeal improvement schemes of this magnitude without an adequato survey of tho district's requirements and in ihe absence of comprehensive town-planning schemes, and to urge the postponement of the present proposal until Newmarket's town plan has been approved by the Town-Planriing Board," wrote the secretary. "My group feels that a more successful solution of traflic problems can be obtained than by tho suggested extension. We submit that such piecemeal proposals only add to the already alarming amount of local body indebtedness without giving commensur ate results in many cases."

"These people are quite entitled to record their objections, and I think they should be sent on with the application to the Loans Board," said the Mayor, Mr. S. . Donaldson. "As far as the council is concerned, we have considered the plan and in our opinion it is in accordance with town-planning principles." Voices: Not this council, sir. The Mayor: This council has not said anything to the contrary. "I have opposed it," said Mr. R. T. Michaels.

"Have you done anything tc have i altered ?" asked the Mayor.

"I understood that it was a fixed thing," replied Mr. Michaels. Question For Ratepayers.

The Mayor said that different councils had considered the problem from all angles and had gone into different proposals, but the ratepayers had never been affordod an opportunity to express their opinion. They would now if the loans proposal was put before them. "I know there is a difference of opinion on the advisability of making the alteration," he said. "If the ratepayers turn it down I am not going to have any heartburnings. I think they should have an opportunity of saying what they think." The Mayor then moved that as all formalities had been complied with tho proposal should be put before the Loans Board, together with the objections, and the board should be asked to expedite consideration of the matter. The motion was carried.

The clerk reported that no objections had been received to a second proposal to borrow a sum of £4500 to acquire land and construct a new roadway linking Crowhurst Street with Gillies Avenue, and it was decided to ask for sanction for this loan.