EAST COAST ROUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23181, 29 October 1938, Page 17

EAST COAST ROUTE

Sir, —The article on the above in your issue of October 26 made very interesting reading. For months, since polling in May last, we have been waiting to see a start made on the first scheme, which, to my way of thinking, is long overdue, so it was a decided shock to read of Mr. R. M. Page's latest idea. iNo doubt there are many arguments in its favour. Apparently no allowances were made for acquiring the necessary property to carry out the .orignal scheme, which would seem to show a lack of attention to detail in preparing it, but, evea so, why should the "through" traffic always be considered before the residents, who, after all, pay the rates in this particular district? Are we not, in return, entitled to access to our properties on roads in "reasonable" order? What does Mr. Page mean by "reasonable" order ? A tally of motor traffic through Castor Bay for one day in January two years ago reached well over 1000 vehicles. "Through" traffic, some might argue, but by that term I mean those whose destination is beyond the districts concerned here, and who are quite well catered for by the existing highway through Albany. If the East Coast Road is sealed there is still the upkeep of the existing Beach Road to consider. As stated, there is very little close settlement on the East Coast Road, and unlikely to be much while the bays are all becoming well populated, to a great extent by permanent residents. I hope the residents concerned will not allow the opportunity of the public meetings to pass without stating their views on this subject and finding out definitely what the council intends doing to the present road if it carries out this latest proposal. Beach Road. •