MANCHESTER SQUARE.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 66, 13 November 1884, Page 2

MANCHESTER SQUARE.

TO THE EDITOH OF TIIR STAB. Sib, — la your report of the last meeting of the Borough Council you make Councillors Thompson and Richardson to " oppose the road round the Square." Now it's a pity that your reporter did not try to give a correct report of this, perhaps, the most important question, that has came before the Council for a long time. The Councillors named did j not oppose a road round the Square. No ! doubt your reporter is perFectly aware that the two plans submitted for the consideration of the Council, haye roads round the Square plainly drawn upon them. What those councillors named, and a majority of those, present did oppose, was the spoiling and blocking up of the two main thoroughfares of the town at their most important points — there intersection — by a " plot of grass." As was pointed out at the time, number one plan accommodates the property holders on the Square, by giving them a road, and the general public by leaving them their roads across the Square. While the advantages of the other plan are entirely monopolised by the eight sections, froniing the Square, which already possess frontage accommodation in Man- 1 chester-street and the Kimbolton Road. The two arguments used by the Mayor, viz, justice and economy, I submit, j wont hold vi ater in presence of the great disadvantage of blocking up the most direct routes through tho centre of the town. In the matter of roads, I take it for granted that the accommodation of the majority of the burgesses should bo first considered. The economical argument is equally thin, the expense named in taking up these roadways would keep them in repair for years. But, Sir, we must think of, or surmise some other motive for bringing forward plan No. 2, the preparation of which was neyer authorised by the Council, but I believe took it or the majority of the members entirely by surprise. Of course, the centralising the business of the Borough on the Square has had nothing to do with it. Now Sir, in conclusion, 1 maintain -that this is a question the Council has no right to decide on without first having the mind of the ratepayers in a public meeting assembled. I am told it is the intention of some of the parties concerned to request the Mayor to call such a meeting before the next meeting of the Council. — I am, &c, Abound and Ackoss thb Squabe.