IRON FENCE AT SYDENHAM PARK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18890, 15 October 1929, Page 9

IRON FENCE AT SYDENHAM PARK.

INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN FOR REINSTATEMENT.

Following upon the decision of the City Council last night, the Town Clerk (Mr J. S. Neville) verbally informed Mr M. J. Barnett, Superintendent of Parks and Reserves, that the iron railing fence on the Colombo Street side of Sydenham Park must be reinstated immediately. It is expected that a start will be made with the work as soon as men can be detailed for it. Councillor F. R. Cooke, who accepted full responsibility for the removal of the fence, stated this morning that he had nothing to do with its reinstatement, which was a matter for the chairman of the committee, Councillor P. W. Sharpe. Th eMayor, the Rev J. K. Archer, made it clear, however, that he intended to see that the decision of the council was carried out without any delay. Expressing his disappointment • that the council had not approved of the removal of the fence, Councillor Cooke said that proposals had been under consideration for erecting a low stone kerbing in place of the railing fence, but it was not intended to do that work immediately. He was of opinion that the work could have been done during the current financial year, but at last night’s meeting of the council it was notpossible to say definitely that that would be the case. Since the fence has been removed residents of the district have freely expressed the opinion that the appearance of the park has been greatly improved. The chief matter concerning which there has been a conflict of opinion is that of the possible danger to children playing in the park. The opposition to the removal of the fence has been greatly strengthened in consequence of the absence of any definite scheme for erecting a stone kerbing or some other obstruction that would prevent children from running across the road.