PETITION FROM LADIES

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1926, Page 11

PETITION FROM LADIES

BETTER ROADS ASKED FOR BELT ROAD AND GLEN ALMONQ COUNCIL'S MONEY SHORTAGE. Thirty-two ladies forwarded a petition to the New Plymouth Borough Council last night and 15 of them invaded the council chamber to present it. They brought with them two mala spokesmen, however, and they explained that improvements were desired iq Belt Road and Glen Almond Street. This is what the ladies prayed: "W e. the wives of the ratepayers of Glen Almond Street and Belt Road, beg to draw the serious attention of the council to the dangerous state of the road in this area, and to request that something be done to render it safe.'We find great difficulty in using that portion of Belt Road from Devon Street to the top of the hill owing to the very rough state of the surface, and request that it be graded and tar-scaled and a footpath formed, and that the lower portion of Glen Almond Street be also tarsealed. “We would also point out that the present footpath on Glen Almond Street is practically useless owing to the presence of steep concrete steps which render it quite unsafe for children and of no use whatever for mothers with prams. We would ask that these steps be removed and the foopath graded to Belt Road. We consider that the amount of rates paid annually justly entitles us to a good road, and particularly to an adequate footpath. We trust that the Mayor and councillors will recognise that this request is reasonable and urgent anil take immediate steps to improve those parte of Belt Road and Glen Almond Street that at present are so dangerous.” Mr. T. McPhillips said the roads were in an exceedingly rough and dangerous condition, and the wives of the ratepayers had come to see whether they could persuade the council to make some improvements. A previous deputation had received a promise twelve months ago that something would be done. The Mayor: You are quite right. When we get the money, we will do it. Mr. McPhillips contended that the rates from the locality for ’he past three yearj, after deducting maintenance charges, would be sufficient to put the two roads in order. In their present condition they were most dangerous for women and children and mothers with prams. The residents felt they were justly entitled to what they asked for.

ANNUAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE. The Mayor pointed out that the counjcil had only £lBOO available each year I for work of this nature. i Dr. G. Home emphasised that this I was an urgent matter. They had been to the council before, but continual dropping wore away the hardest stone. The surface was very hard on car tyres, but there were more important considerations than that. He had seen women pushing prams up the hill, and it was a painful sight The Mayor: We all recognise that the road must be tar-sealed. Until it Is tar-sealed wc 'can never hold up the road, and we have got to widen it. He thought the matter would lie considered when the estimates were framed next year. As soon as the weathe. was settled something of a temporary nature would be done. The estimates committee would meet in February to allocate the little money they had to spend. Avenue Road, the main entrance to New Plymouth, was also very dangerous for children, who had no path to walk on. Cr. Kibby said the works committee had favourably considered the improvement of Belt Road, and had been waiting for metal, but the Mayor added > that the work required a spell of fine weather. One of the lady members of' the deputation suggested the road would need grading before being tar-sealed. During further discussion Mr. MePltillips said the husbands of the locality would give two or three Saturdays to assist the council to put a footpath down one side of Belt Road. There was always a danger to children where there was no footpath. The Mayor said a path could not be put down without kerbing and channelling. That had been tried on Cutfield Road. Tn any ease the offer of labour from the residents on Saturday afternoons would he of no use ns the council's men and plant would not then be available. The Mayor: Yun lend us the money, free of interest, aud we'll do it. Mr. McPhillips: That is not a fair question, but if you grade the road, tar-seal and make the path I'll be on the whole time you have the men there. The deputation withdrew after the Mayor had said the council's men would be in the locality probably before Christmas. The road would be tarsealed as soon as possible.