PROTEST VOICED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 127, 29 April 1940, Page 5

PROTEST VOICED

KIMBOLTON ROAD CROSSING. DEPARTMENT’S PLANS. A public meeting was called by the Mayor (Mr T L. Seddon) and the president, of the Redding Chamber of Commerce (Mr A. C. Buist), on Saturday to discuss the Railway' Department’s proposal to lay further sets of rails over the Kimbolton lload crossing. Mr Buist presided over a good attendance. Mr R. G. Croudis, stationmaster, was invited to explain the proposals, and said there would be six tracks instead of tnree over the crossing. The yards being formed would extend along Beattie Street to Hobson Street. “Will the Kimbolton Road crossing be blocked at any time?” asked Hon. J. G. Cobbe. Mr Croudis replied that at times when there was a very long train it would be blocked for a short period. Mr H. J. Dewo asked if there would bo sufficient space in the new yards for all the shunting to be done,. Mr Croudis: Yes. There would not he much shunting over Hobson Street, Mr Croudis added. In reply to Mr R. W. Law, Mr Croudis said there would be sufficient room for the carriers ( to load and unload, although there would be little room to spare. Mr Law thought the meeting should be shown a plan of the proposed work, and Mr Croudis said he had had no knowledge of the meeting being held until that morning. Mr 'I. E. Fitz Gerald asked if tlio southern end of the present yards could be used, and Mr Croudis said that had been considered, but it was unsuitable. Mr T. Evans thought the Gladstone Street crossing could be closed, and Mr Fitz Gerald said that a subway could be built at the Gladstone Street crossing. Mr Evans said that it was impossible to get the necessary depth. The suggestion had been made in the past. SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE. Mr Hausmann considered that the Railway Department should seriously consider the southern end of the railway reserve in order to save the disfigurement of Kimbolton Road. The Gladstone Street crossing was a very dangerous one. He suggested that the Gladstone Street crossing be closed and the improved shunting facilities installed at the southern end of the railway station. Mr Croudis said it would be necessary to shift the live-stock loading camps. Mr Dewe: I cannot see how the department can have sufficient room to carry out all shunting operations between Kimbolton Road and Hobson Street. Mr Evans considered that the stock ramp could be shifted to below South Street. Mr Hausmanii asked whether the original plans for shunting improvements had gone. The town was entitled to a say in the matter, and consideration of future developments should be given. Mr Croudis was thanked for his c.\ planation of tbe position. Ho stated in reply to another question that the plans could be seen and the matter | discussed with the district engineer. Mr Cobbe suggested that _ a subcommittee be set up to go into the matter. Little could be done until the plans lmd been seen. Mr Fitz Gerald said that the scheme of shifting to the northern end of Iviml bolton Road would not assist, and he felt that the department should be asked to confine the extensions to the southern end. Mr Hausmann moved that a strong protest Ik; made with a view to having the proposed work hold up until representations are made by the sub-com-mittee to the Minister of Railways. Tlio motion was seconded by Mr Law and supported by Messrs Dewe and liuckman, being carried unanimOn the motion of Messrs I’. B. Desmond and A. H. Maguire, the following sub-committee was set up: Messrs 1. L. Seddon (Mayor), A. C. Buist, 0. Hausmann, H. J. Dewe, S. Smith, B. Law. T Fitz Gerald, and A. J. Kellow. Mr Cobbe was co-opted on the commit tee. It was decided to send a telegram to the General Manager of Railways immediately, worded as follows: A representative meeting of ratepayers and business people, held to-day, stroiK'lv urges suspension of the proposed”‘alterations to shunting yards at Feilding and asks your department to confer with the local committee appointed this morning .before proceeding further with the work.” EXTENSION OF YARDS. Interviewed on Saturday by the “Standard,” Mr Croudis stated that the plans for improved shunting facilities in Feilding had beem approved twelve months ago and it was now proposed to proceed with the erection of the yards, which would result in minimising the delay caused to motoiists by shunting operations over the Kimbolton Load crossing. Mr Croudis said it was a slack period at present, and that was the reason for the work being put in hand now. He explained that three sets of rails would require to be laid on the crossing, giving access to the new yards situated to the north-west of the Kimbolton Road crossing and along Beattie Street A network of shunting rails would be-laid in the new yards and carriers would lie able to unload trucks without difficulty and the empty trucks removed expeditiouslv without halt over the level crossing. The improvement would result in the congestion in the main vards opposite the station being relieved, and at. the same time it, would eliminate the necessity for shunting operations to extend over the crossing it would further result in the ringin' l, of the bolls being confined to a warning regarding the approach of trains.