CROSSING PERIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23036, 13 May 1938, Page 10

CROSSING PERIL

ROTORUA RAILWAY LINE REMOVAL OF SHED WANTED / : ' REQUEST MADE BY RESIDENTS [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] ROTORUA, Thursday The question of the removal of the locomotive shed which obscures the Ranolf Avenue crossing, and also the construction of an overbridge or subway across the railway yards for' the use of residents of the outer suburbs of Rotorua, was the subject of a deputation of the Rotorua Borough Council to the Minister of Public Works,; the Hon. R. Semple, this morning. The Mayor, Mr. T. Jackson, stated that repeated requests had been made to the Railway Department to take some steps to make the crossing safe, but so far nothing had been done. One of the most serious aspects was that the locomotive shed was erected on the fence-lino and completely blocked the visibility of traffic using the road. The local residents, knew the times of the trains and exercised care, but the danger point was unknown to the thousands of visitors who came to the town and passed the spot on the way to the borough motor camp. Tallies taken during holiday periods had shown that as many as 1500 motor-cars an hour passed the spot on the way to the camp. Regarding the provision of an overbridge or subway.for pedestrians, Mr.' Jackson stated that it was not only a question of the additional distance which had to be travelled by residents of the southern suburb and the consequent loss of time, 'but also the fact that, as long as there was no direct access, and in spite of the restrictions imposed by the Railway Department, people would continue to take the short route across the railway yards. This was recognised to be a dangerous practice.

The Minister stated that he would represent both questions to the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan.