AN OLD PROBLEM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 11, 28 March 1947, Page 5

AN OLD PROBLEM

ROADING AT OIIOPE BEACH SECTIONS 1 TO 58 AGAIN A determined effort is being made by the Ohope Progress League to bring finality to a question which has given rise to more controversy at Ohope Beach than any other since the settlement first came into being. This covers the vexed problem of roading the beach frontage giving access to sections on the western end from numbers 1 to 58. To this end a deputation of eight members led by Mr R. Cobbe, the president, waited on the County Council last Tuesday.

Mr Cobbe in presenting a petition asking the Council to dedicate and form a roadway in front of . the sections said the 75 per cent, of the section-holders concerned had signed and were willing to make over the requisite land for that purpose and realign their front fence lines to suit the surveyed route. Those who had abstained from signing were on the main absentee owners,, but the great majority desired to end the present unsatisfactory state of affairs and to see a properly formed road serving their end of the beach. He pointed out the growing volume of traffic on Ohope and said that with the pre-war population nearly doubled the development of the beach was a positive thing which demanded the interest of the whole of the County. Ohope Beach was in actuality a ‘lung’ to the district where country dwellers could come for a change* of air. Mr A. J. Canning also spoke contending that in its present condition the road was a danger and in the event of an accident people would inevitably blame the County Council. In view of the heavy rating drawn from Ohope annually it was, in his opinion up to the Council to clear up the absurd state of affairs which now obtained.

In answer to Cr McCready’s question, the secretary (Mr Marryatt) said that six had refused to sign of a total number of section holders involved of 45. He added that all who had signed would be satisfied if the road was formed as, far as the reserve.

The chairman, Mr J. L. Burnett, pointed out that under the law, if one section owner objected the Council could not put the road through. The should be unanimous.

Mr Cobbe thought that under an appeal an objector would receive scant consideration in view of the large number who desired to see the road formed. The risk in that direction would be small!

When the deputation had retired, Cr Wardlaw gave it as his opinion that the residents were in a ‘tough spot.’ They had gone to a lot of trouble to try and clear the matter up. The controversy had been going on ever since he had been on the Council, and. surely there must be some way of cleaning it up.

He was strongly supported Ipy Cr McCready who added that if there were any legal difficulties they should be investigated with a view to at least bringing the matter to a head.

The referred to the Works Committee to investigate and to report back.