PURCELL STREET CORNER A DEATH TRAP

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4413, 11 February 1930, Page 2

PURCELL STREET CORNER A DEATH TRAP

SAYS OR. ROBINSON.

“1 have motored from Auckland to Wellington,” said Cr. F. Robinson at last night’s Borough Council meeting, “and .the roughest job I’ve seen on any highway is the corner of Johnston and, Purcell Streets. It’s nothing more than a death trap. The corner has certainly been taken off but the whole job •has been botched. In it’s place is a wire fence and a telegraph pole which are a menace to motorists juul the sooner they are removed the better.” The Mayor said the work was carried out by the Main Highways Board and the Manawatu County Cuiicil, hut the Council could make uiiv recommendation to better the

position. The Clerk said he was responsible to a certain extent for the work. The Council was equally interested ‘with the other two bodies. The hill had been cut back but the roadway was still the same as it was before except that motorists now had a. clear view around the corner. The fence had been erected around the newly-construe ted tootpath to protect pedestrians and the corner was safe for children now. (Cr. Robinson: There will be a l ad accident unless that telegraph pole and fence are removed. At night time motorists would never c-xpcct to find a fence stuck in the middle of the cutting. The Clerk: There is a light on the corner.

Cr. John Ross suggested painting tin* posts white. The Mayor thought the fence dangerous to motorists, but a safeguard to children. He did not anticipate a fence being erected when the work was first, discussed. Cr. Barron said the fence would he perfectly safe to motorists if battens were nailed on to it and painted white. The fence was a great safeguard to children.

Cr. Thompson said if the fence was taken away the road would have to he metalled the whole width as there was a strip of sand between the road and footpath. The posts should be quite easily discernible if painted. Cr. Cowley said the roadway wanted fixing up properly whether the fence was left there or not. In its present condition the loose sand would soon blow away, it- was half over the tar sealed portion of the road that day', and the Council would lose both road and path. The children would he quite safe if the fence was removed as motorists would not go on the footpath. Cr. Barron questioned the latter statement as, lie said, there was no i urb.

The Clerk said they had found it necessary to erect curbs to prevent motorists encroaching on footpaths in other localities.

After further discussion it was decided to ask the P. and T. Department to remove the telegraph pole and to remove the fence and metal the road right up to the footpath. Crs. Lueinskv and Barron voted against the motion.