POLICY DEFINED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 34, 27 March 1942, Page 8

POLICY DEFINED

M.H.B. FOOTPATH CONSTRUCTION ADVICE TO COUNTY COUNCILS In a letter to the Whakatane County Council, the secretary of the New Zealand Counties' Association stated that as there is still some doubt regarding the Main Highways Board's responsibility in connection with the maintenance and construction of footpaths on State highways, the following satement of its policy lias been obtained from the chairman: — "With regard to your enquiry as te the Board's responsibility in connection with the maintenance and constructon of footpaths on State highways I have to advise that the position is covered by Subsection (2) of Section 5 of the Main Highways Amendment Act, 193 G. The Board's liability or obligation in respect of State highways is to provide free money for all work which is within the standard prescribed by the Board. You will appreciate that the Board is entitled to fix its own standards which jnay vary from time to time and which may not necessarily be uniform throughout the whole Highways system. Where the density of traffic is greatest the Board adopts a higher standard than in those areas where the traffic is light. Generally speaking. the Board's standards relate only to items of work which are an integral part of highway maintenance and construction for trafficable purposes. Works which may be required for local amenities and services outside the prescribed standards may be undertaken with the Board's approval by the local authority concerned at its own expense, or with financial assistance from the Main Highways Account if authorised by the Board. As regards footpath work, the Board has indicated that where its approval is given it will also provide a £1 for £1 subsidy towards the cost of both construction and maintenance of footpaths, and it is usually a matter of arrangement as to whether such footpath work is undertaken by the Board or the local authority according to which may be more convenient. As to the class of work coming within the category of maintenance, the Board has decided that for subsidy purposes the term applies only to the reseating of existing footpaths and does not include any work performed by local bodies in iemoA Ing weeds or vegetable growth from the sides of footpaths or any other work which local authorities may undertake. Loose gravel or fine metal spread on a footpath will not be subject to the subsidy except when applied in conjunction with resealing work. | I might mention that prior to September, 1937. the Board did not provide any assistance whatsoever towards the cost of constructing or maintaining footpaths." ■ t