TRAFFIC CONTROL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 192, 31 August 1937, Page 8

TRAFFIC CONTROL

Problem Facing Hastings Council RAILWAY FACILITIES Brief mention of the problem confronting the Borough Council in the control of vehicular traffic, was made by the Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, at the complimentary luncheon tendered to him by the Hastings Chamber of Commerce yesterday. He_ pointed out that the number of registered vehicles in Hastings was upproximately 25 per cent of the population. Hopes were eutertained that with the removal of the Railway Station to tho proposed new site that two additional streets would be opened up and that a parking place ior cars in the heart of the business area would be made available. Mr Maddison pointed out that the importance ot Hastings was depicted in the great voluine of inotor traffio that travcrsed our highways and entered the borough of Hastings. According to the latest statistics, the greatest voluine of traffic recorded was af the Mangateretere corner oi the Farndon — Hastings road, where over 1400 vehicles passed every day; and at i'akipaki. on the road entering Hastings, the average was over 5U0 a day; and on the Omahu road over 800 vehicles a day, and on Havelock road over 1100 vehicles a day. The total number of motor drivers licensed for the year ended March 31, 1937, >vas 3344. Licensed cars numbered 3147, and licensed lorries 962. "That will give you some idea of the vast voluine of traffio that has to be dealt with within the borough boundaries, and this traffic with the a.ddition of our internal vehicular traffic is naturally causing considerable concern to borough councillors," he said. "It appears to me that at some future tuna the council will have to copy the practice that obtains in severai parts of Engtland, and provide special parking areas adjacent to the principal business areas."Recaliing the recent representations made to the Hon. B. G. Sullivan, Minister of Railuays, regarding a more up-to-date station and better services generally, Mr Maddison said that he considered that these railway facilities were perhaps the greatest need for the future well- being of Hastings. "It is absolutely essential in facing up to the future, that Queen street and Avenue road should be made 'througli' s.treets for traffic," he declared. He pointed out that owing to the fact that St. Aufcyn street was the only thoroughfare between Heretaunga street and Frederick street, the congestion of traffic to Heretaunga street was becoming particularly acute. It was essential, to relieve that position and to .provide for the future, that apart from a. new railway station, the wh&e shunting activities and services of the railway should be taken further out of town, so as to allow the two streets mentioned to be opened up for' vehicular traffic. "I eannof emphasise too much the importance of this ;scheme in the realisation of rthe Lorough's future development and service," he said, "while we undoubtedly require a new railway station building, the more important point about the readjustment of arilway services is that they should be located further north. so as to allow the opening Hip of these streets." "The council has in mind, provided that the railway station is moved to the north of'its present site, and the two streets are opened up, tbat some arrangeraent will be made with the Departrnent and the Government to use the vacant area between Heretaunga street and Queen street for the parking o| cars,"- he concluded.