OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 June 1941, Page 3

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

PARKING FACILITIES (To the Editor) Sir, —On January 23 and 29 two letters appeared in your paper under the above heading. A footnote under the letter of January 28 was as follows: ■‘The Town Clerk, Mr G. T. O'Hara Smith, slates that the Masterton Borough Council has been considering the matter mentioned in the above letter. It is understood that the transport organisation concerned is negotiating to secure a parking area for its vehicles which will take them off the street.” A small parking place alongside the premises occupied by Transport (Walrarapa) Ltd in Lincoln Road has evidently been obtained, and the parking of lorries in the road is not quite as bad as it was, but is still bad enough. Any persons interested have only to walk along Lincoln Road and see for themselves. I feel very sorry for those living alongside and opposite the premises occupied by this public nuisance. It is bad enough where I am and that is some little distance away. In a residential area, practically in the heart of the town, use is still being made of the public street for the parking of lorries; which disturb the locality with fiendish noises. Some of the drivers seem to take a delight in making as much noise as possible in stopping, starting, backing and leaving their engines running. Some career down the road on the noisiest low gear and when a few hundred yards away change down. Here is the picture: Huge lorries —some empty, some full, lorries with sheep crates on, caravan lorries (for carriage of school children) all in turn parked for lengthy periods at the front doors of dwelling houses. No doubt many of these residents pay local rates. About a fortnight ago, while passing along Lincoln Road, I observed a car owner resident backing his car from his residence on to the road. His view was obscured both ways by lorries and he was forced to leave his car across the footpath while he got out and walked on to the road to see if there was any oncoming traffic. Early in the morning and late in the evening, the neighbourhood is disturbed with the noise of lorries. Should anyone living in the vicinity be seriously ill or even moderately sick, what an annoyance these noisy lorries would be, to say nothing of what the result might be. Our city fathers and traffic inspectors are simply not interested. What legal rights have the residents? Would some legally-minded gentleman do a good turn and reply to this letter giving his views on the noise created, obstructing the traffic view, parking of trade vehicles for lengthy periods on a public highway near the centre of the town, depreciation of property from a sale point of view on account of a nuisance and ruining of footpath ornamental trees.

Thanking you. Mr Editor, for your valuable space—l am, etc., LIVE AND LET LIVE. Masterton, June 18. RACING FIXTURES ——— June 21 —Waipa. June 21 —Ashburton County. June 21, 23— Manawatu. June 28 —Dannevirke Hunt June 28 —Oamaru.