ONE BROAD HIGHWAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12614, 26 November 1926, Page 7

ONE BROAD HIGHWAY

MAGISTRATE GIVES DECISION IN KENT TERRACE DISPUTE WORK SHOULD GO ON PORTION OF RESERVE TO BE TAKEN FOR A PUBLIC STREET It has been recommended by Mr E, Page, S.M., that a proclamation be issued authorising the City Council to proceed with the work of widening Kent and Cambridge terraces by cutting strips aggregating 21 feet from the reserve running between the two terraces.

In making this recommendation the magistrate traversed the points raised at the recent inquiry, and said the evidence had persuaded him to the following conclusions: That during the busy hours there is a substantial congestion of traffic in Kent terrace. The statistics supplied show that in no street in' the city is the volume of traffic greater than in Kent terrace. The proposed increase in width in the two terrnees will materially relieve this congestion. That the present position of the Kent terrace footpath, the edge of which is almost brushed by the passing trams, is a danger which should be removed. That the visibility at the ends of the reserve where they abut on Buckle street and Vivian street needs substantial improvement. BEAUTY ENHANCED. “Although in a city by no means bountifully supplied with trees and plantations.” he went on, “it may seem a pity to destroy any trees or shrubs, an.d although the question of the relative beauty or suitability of trees similar to those now existing as against ornamental grass plots and flowers and shrubs is largely a matter of opinion, I think that the latter method is more appropriate in this locality. The proposed increase in the width of the two terraces and the carrying out on the reserve of a scheme of planting similar to that recently carried out at the northern end will, I think, enhance the appearance and beauty of these combined streets. They will be seen as one broad highway instead of as two relatively narrow streets. “Some danger is apprehended from the fact that although tram traffic running in both directions exists in Kent terrace, ■ the council proposes to make motor traffic in each terrace over the whole width of road, one-way traffic only. TRAFFIC CONTROL. “The question of the control of the traffic in the streets is, I think, one primarily for the consideration of the City Council, hut with Tlie tram tracks in their present position, if one-way

traffic is allowed over the whole width of Kent terrace, I do think that the result will equal in danger the conditions at present existing. I am inclined to think that with the increased width of both terraces ordinary twoway traffio in each will be found to be more suitable and convenient. “The fact that the Town Planning Act, 1926; will come into force at the beginning of 1927 is not in my view a sufficient 'ground for delaying the carrying out of the City Council proposals in these streets. It will probably he some years before a town planning scheme is completed and approved. The whole weight of evidence indicates that whatever supplementary routes of traffio may be devised in the future, it is clear,, so far ns at the present day it is humanly possible to predict that Kent and Cambridge terraces, from their geographical position and their topographical features in relation to the city, will always be one of the main arteries towards the southern end of the city. “Moreover, the evidence'shows that the proposals of the Wellington City Council in relation to this highway conform to recognised and approved principles of town planning. “It may be proper here to mention that the file which you forwarded me shows that one of the grounds taken in opposition to the scheme was that there had been in the past substantial encroachments on the reserves entrusted to the corporation, and that unless a halt were called the reserves would he gradually whittled away. The evidence before me shows that of the total area of town belt and reserves (1068 acres) originally conveyed to the corporation in 1873 there has been, excluding land taken for roads, less than II acres appropriated by the City Council to other purposes. During the same period the .corporation has acquired chiefly by purchase, additional parks and reserves totalling over 1000 acres. “In the result I am of opinion that the proposal of the Wellington City Council is a proper one, ana I recommend that the necessary proclamation be issued authorising the portions of reserve shown on the plan submitted to you to be taken for the purpose of public streets.”