NEW SHUNTING YARDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 133, 6 May 1940, Page 5

NEW SHUNTING YARDS

REPORT TO CITIZENS. COMMITTEE’S ACTIVITY. The committee set up to investigate matters in connection with the new shunting yards on Saturday reported to a public meeting the position to date. The Mayor (Mr T. L. Seddon) i presided. | The secretary of the Chamber of I Commerce (Mr G. J. Fitzpatrick) rei parted the action taken by the com- | mittee to discuss the proposed new ; shunting yards with the railway au,'thorities. , Correspondence and telegrams which ; had passed between the committee and , the Railway Department were read. Mr Beddon said the- committee had - considered the matter very fully and he presented u report covering the . business discussed. This stated: “Mr , Dow, the engineer, visited us on May . 1. I think the committee will agree , when I say that we found him sym- ; pathetic and fully alive to the situa- • j.tion. The committee pointed out that , the present position might have been avoided if tile Railway Department , had taken the civic authority and the business interests into its confidence. The discussion, which was of an informal nature, centred on three prin- , cipal matters: (1) Whether it was practicable to Lave all the shunting yards on the south side of Kimbolton Road. (2) Whether the piuposed alterations would make the Kimbolton Road crossing more difficult for users (both pedestrian and traffic). (3) In the event of the proposed alterations proceeding what practical measures (if ! any) should be taken for the protection ! of the public. “The committee is satisfied, after a full discussion with the engineer, that it is not practicable to confine the shunting yards to the south side of Kimbolton Road. The department has considered several alternative plans and. has given this particular point consideration, but the scheme is not practicable, and trains would still have to go across Kimbolton Road to shunt. Furthermore, the present stockholding paddocks and the loading pens would have to be removed, and the present efficient arrangements would be seriously affected. The proposed alterations are designed to improve the utility of the Eoilding railway station and, according to the engineer, for that purpose only. The engineer stated that there is no connection between the alterations and any ramp, although, of course, the committee cannot disregard the situation that the proposed alterations might be of such a nature that a ramp would present the only way of overcoming the danger created. This does not, however, appear to be the position. The engineer is quite definite that the alterations will minimise shunting traffic on the crossing itself, although they will not alter the position with regard to traffic on the main lines. According to the engineer, one of the effects of the proposed alterations will be to relieve the present congestion at the crossing. Considerable discussion took place on the third point, the result of which may be summed up by stating that the engineer did not admit that the crossing would be dangerous to traffic by reason of tlic proposed alterations, although lie was ] inclined to agree that the crossing might be more difficult for pedestrian users in that the six lines of tracks would extend about a chain over all. He did not favour either a subway or an overhead bridge, and in reply to the committee’s suggestion that it might be advisable to _ create safety zones between the shunting tracks and the main lines for pedestrians, be agreed that this would be' done. The committee therefore recommends that in the meantime no further action be taken.” DIFFICULTIES FACED. Supplementing his report, Mr Seddon said that tnc district railway engineer had designed the shunting yards for the Auckland station, and was fully competent to deal with the problem in Eoilding. Mr Seddon added that railway business was increasing in Feilding, and the department lmd made an honest attempt to overcome the congestion of traffic caused by shunting operations. The loading and unloading of live-stock constituted a vital industry to Feilding, and the present facilities should not be disturbed. Tile engineer bad been asked if the new work would be sufficient to cover the needs of tlie town for many years to come. Air Dow bad stated that lie could not give such an assurance, and be mentioned that there was not much more room for expansion. It might be necessary in years to come to shift the station. Where it would be shifted to the engineer did not state. Hon. J, G. Cobbe and Mr A. C. Buist supported the report, Mr Cobbe stressing the need of avoiding any shifting of the stock-loading yards; ■Air H. J. Dewc pointed out that if the shunting yards lmd been placed at tlio southern end there, would still he shunting operations over Kimbolton Road.

Air Fitzpatrick said lie had been advised that the Auctioneers’ Association would have protested strongly had the trucking yards been interfered with. Mr Seddon commented that the engineer had stated that the department had no intention of erecting a ramp. Air Smith said that had the trucking yards been shifted they would have liad to be placed between Eyre and South Streets, and there would have been complaints made by residents in that locality. Air P. G. Guy was in accord with the report, and expressed thanks to the committee for the manner in which the- matter liad been discussed with t-lie authorities. On the motion of Air B. Law, it was decided to send a letter of appreciation to the district engineer for coming to Feilding. Air Seddon said lie felt the committee would have to be content to be guided by the expert advice of the engineer. The report was adopted, the Mayor thanking the Chamber of Commerce and Afessrs Buist and Fitzpatrick for their interest in the matter. AJembers of the committee contributed to the expenses involved in connection with the subject.