State Of Disused Pit Worries Ratepayer

Chronicle (Levin), 20 February 1948, Page 4

State Of Disused Pit Worries Ratepayer

Concern . at the state of a pit situated at the eastetn end of Kent Street, Levin, was expressed in a report brought forward by a member of thfe Levin Ratepayers' Association, Mr. F. Croot, at last night's meeting, Mr. Croot is the member of the aommittee responsible for .Health and-' S-ocial Welfare^ in the district. * * During the winter, the pit was half filled with stagnant water he com'mented. This caused a direct danger to the many yoimg children who were allowed to play near it. At the last meeting of the association it had recommended that .the Levin Borough Council have the pit fenced. He had followed this up by attending a meeting of. ■ the council which had decided that-as-the land belonged to the Crown, nothing could be done in 4 the matter.

Recently, however, the land, or "hole in the ground," had been given to the council, '.and he now suggested that a strong recommendation be sent to the council to Jhaye the pit fenced in. H6 understood that the pit was. to be filled with rubbish and made into a playing area. This would p'ossibly prove to be a breeding ground for insects while this was being done. The association would have to see that the rubbish wqs suitably covered with spoil at regular intervals. There was probably not another pit in Levin with the same characteristics as this one, he asserted. In winter, it was 20 or 30 f eet deep with water and was not spray ed to prevent the breeding of insects' and mosquitos. If . a child waS- drowned in the pit and a elaim successfully laid against the council, it would be a cost against the ratepayers. The questions will come before the association at a future meeting.