KERBSIDE PUMPS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 25, Issue 3761, 27 May 1936, Page 4

KERBSIDE PUMPS

COUNCIL PROVIDES EXEMPTION FOR ARAWATA STREET.

The Borough Council on Monday evening accepted the Mayors suggestion that the previous decision of the Council to refuse permits for kerbside petrol pumps in Arawata Street should be amended.

Newton King, Ltd., inquired the Council’s attitude re petrol pumps, as the firm intends to erect new premises in Te Awamutu, at the corner of Arawata and George streets. They desired to know if petrol pumps on the kerb would be permitted

The Mayor said the Council had earlier decided to bar kerbside pumps from certain streets. Had the firm applied about six weeks ago probably no objection would have been lodged. But now the Council’s resolution debarred the applicants. However, he had seen plans of the firm’s new premises. There was provision so that motor vehicles would enter from Arawata Street and go out into George Street. He pointed out that Arawata Street is a wide one, and there is not so much retail business for pedestrians near the George Street comer. He wondered which would cause the most inconvenience to pedestrians—to have kerbside pumps in front of Newton King’s premises or to have the motor vehicles crossing two footpaths to get to bowsers on the firms’ own property. The plans provided for three pumps. The pumps if on the firm’s property, would not be right on'the comer, so that visibility for other traffic would not be interfered with.

Cr Miontefiore said before application to erect bowsers on the kerbside could be granted the resolution of the Council would have to be amended to exempt Arawata Street. The Mayor said it had not been his intention to include Arawata Street in the prohibition. Cr Miontefiore thought the better plan, in the present case, would be to allow kerbside pumps. The Mayor said no influence had been brought to bear on behalf of the firm. The only reason for altering the earlier decision was that Arawata Street is so much wider than other streets in the business area.

Cr Montefiore gave notice to delete Arawata Street from the earlier prohibition. It was decided to ask the firm to so prepare the building plans to provide for the pumps to be placed as far as possible away from the George Street comer. Cr North said it seemed to be the lesser of two evils.