PEDESTRIANS ON NORTH ROAD

Southland Times, Issue 23308, 18 September 1937, Page 8

PEDESTRIANS ON NORTH ROAD

PLEA FOR FOOTPATHS 1500 VEHICLES A DAY USE HIGHWAY A plea for a footpath for the pedestrians who use the North road was contained in a letter from Miss E. T. Todd which was discussed by the Southland County Council at its meeting yesterday. “Once again I am writing to see if your councillors will consider the advisability of making a footpath from Karitane to Cooper’s Corner,” Miss Todd wrote. “From there the roads diverge, thus lessening the traffic. Those who have the good fortune to possess motor-cars can have no idea of the nerve-racking business it is to walk along that road. To me it seems hard that motorists who are safe in their cars have a beautiful smooth surface, while we pedestrians dare not venture on to the bitumen; in fact even walking on the gravelled part is fraught with danger. A few days ago some ladies were walking along, two abreast on the side of the road. A motorist came along at a great speed, end just before he reached them he left the bitumen and came right on to the gravel. One of the ladies was almost knocked down. She was missed by just a few inches. Needless to say all got a great fright. Not so the motorist! He calmly went on, sometimes on the bitumen, sometimes on the gravel. “A narrow footpath on one side of the road with a very small footbridge over the Waikiwi river would be a great benefit to the whole district,” she added.

Cr J. McNeill suggested that a gravel footpath might suit, but other councillors said that it was a matter for the Main Highways Board to attend to. The chairman (Cr A. S. McNaught) pointed out that the road was now controlled by the Main Highways Board and it was responsible for the needs of the traffic on it.

The county clerk (Mr H. C. Gimblett) said a tally showed that 1500 vehicles a day, seven days a week, used the road. It was decided to refer the matter to the Main Highways Board.