RAMPS ON MAIN ROAD.

Shannon News, 15 April 1924, Page 3

RAMPS ON MAIN ROAD.

SHANNON DEPUTATION TO COUNTY COUNCIL. At Saturday’s meeting of the Horowhenua County Oouncil, a deputation irom the Shannon Borough Council, consisting- of the (Mayor, Mr W. Murdoch and iCirs. Gunning and Murray were received in respect of the ramps over ithe Foxlon road. Or. 'MJonk, .chairmian of the County Council, presided. Mr Murdoch explained that ’ the ramps were in a .very unsatisfactory condition, being so narrow as to make passing a real danger. The Shannon Borough Council, he explained, did not lay this staite of affairs at the door of the County Council, but asked their assistance in obtaining an Improvement. Shannon was directly concerned in keeping this road open as it was one of the main roads leading into the Borough and was used by a considerable section of the community for the purpose qf bringing produce into Shannon .either to the railway or to the dairy factory. The banking had been done by tihe Government in order to allow of the extra water being brought down the river from the Mangahao works. At a meeting held before the work was commenced the question of adequate ramps had been one of the chief matters of dis-

cussion, tihe 'Government Engineer agreeing that satisfactory arrangements must o>e made, and the matter being left in the (hands of the local bodies concerned and .the (Public Works for final settlement. A decision as to a suitable width had been arrived at, .but their complaint now Was that this agreement had not been adhered to. A lot of complaint had been received-from people who were compelled to use this road and only this morning the inemlhers of the present deputation had inspected the work and on measuring the ramp had found that it had only a width of 12ft on top iso that two cars could only pass with the greatest difficulty, A very small amount of money wouiiu fill in the angles and make the road quite safe, so small that the matter appeared trivial to come before the Council with.

The chairman: We think so too. Cr. 'Murdoch: It would not be much trouble to giet this doine. The chairman: This road has not yet been completed by the Public Works, Who will make it up to 15 feet. It has not yet .been handed over to the County Council. If you have come to warn us, I think we can assure you that the Council is capable of looking after its interests sufficiently well to see that the full width is made up, before .we take the road over.

■Cr. Murdoch: Since you assure us of this we .are quite satisfied. Cr. Gunning-: In the meantime there is; danger. The chairman; How can you eliminate the risk? The work is very necessary for the. progress of the district which.' you gentlemen represent, and must go on. I have been informed' that two cars .can pass on top of the ramps, perhaps with a certain amount; of risk, but still can pass. There was another and very important point to be considered: The Main Highways Bill would very shortly be in operation and he .understood that alterations in this road were contemplated Which would mean that the road would no longer pass over this ramp. It would therefore, toe foolish to undertake a large expenditure on the ramp when in all probability it would not be required for any length of time.

Cr. Murray contended that despite what had been said to the contrary he did not consider that there was room for two cars to 1 pass with reasonable safety on “top" of the ramp. If a very small amount of filling were done, it would 'then be safe. :Cr. Murdoch: While the dredge was there they .should have put on a little more earth. This system of cheese-paring is ridiculous. The chairman; The dredge could not wait until the earth settled. It is probably this settlement which is responsible for most of the trouble. He (agreed that 12ft was ,iinsuifioienl| Width, but as it Would be eventually widened to 15ft there would then be plenty of room. The deputation then thanked the Council and withdrew.