"SO-CALLED" ROADS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 173, 29 October 1941, Page 5

"SO-CALLED" ROADS

DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS AT

OHOPE

COMPLAINTS TO COUNTY

COUNCIL

Describing the roading conditions at Ohope as deplorable and chaotic, the president of the Ohope Progress and Ratepayers' Association (Mr T. P. Dowling) "wrote a critical letter to the Whakatane County Council this being received at yesterday's meeting. The writer stated that it was liis • duty to be a keen critic of the county council for the condition of the '"so-called" roads. When rain fell, lie wrote, Pohutukawa Avenue was •a series of lakes and lagoons from -end to end. As a private individual the Association president stated that he was anxious to assist the council in every way possible. Lack of Foresight Continuing the writer said he desired to advise the council that last ■winter a large tree fell on the road at Ohope bringing with it a large amount of spoil and tlie cost of the removal must have been in the vicinity of £100. This expenditure, wrote Mr Dowling, could have been avoided if judicious care and foresight had been exercised. Repetition Threatened It was added that another tree was undermined and liable to fall, and the suggestion was ventured that the tree be filled there probably being Ohope residents who would be .prepared, to do the work at no cost. "In a Bad Way" Cr H. C. McCready, the Riding member, agreed that the road was in a bad way with poor drainage, while there was practically a total absence of metal on the road. He continued that it had been '•hoped that the Main Highway project would, remedy the deficiencies but. of course, there was little hope of that lor many years to come. Regarding- the tree he agreed that this would cause trouble, and it was important that it did not give the •same trouble as the previous one 'that fell and cost the council about '£60. "We will be up against the ■cry against cutting trees however," ihe added. The engineer agreed that the tree would have to be dealt with. He stated that the council had been practically forbidden to touch the last one which fell prior to its cutting, and as a result considerable expenses and inconvenience had been caused. It was decided to call tenders for Ihe removal of the tree.