PROPOSED BRIDGES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 113, 4 July 1911, Page 6

PROPOSED BRIDGES

’BOROUGH COUNCIL ’ DISCUSSION ESTIMATES FOR VICTORIA j>Ki ihJE. A special meeting of the Borough 'Jcuncji has iickl last i.ugut ior purpose oi lurwicr considering i,.i;o tuau proposal#, ■.lucre were present: Iho a,voi (Mr. ,1. iVlasteis;, and •'..fa. x aget, bangs tor, McAixister, Boon, Ward, Tical.y, Aronson, La'.vwii and tving. Or. B.i.vson moved Unit tiro Overcoer Iso ashed to give alternate estimates lor roconsti acting tlie Victoria joiidge or 'for widening it on both .lides to its full width. Tub Mayor seconded. Ha thought it would be a waste of money to pull Jpwn the present bridge, i hcrofore, ae favoured getting estimates for widening. Cr. King agreed that it would be a waste of money to take the bridge away. ft would last for at least twenty years. And no widening nlipuicl be .carried put until they’ saw congestion on the bridge. At present cither replacing or widening would be a waste of the ratepayers’ money. Cr. Paget moved as an amendment tiiat estimates be got for the four, bridges—-Cordelia .Street, Broadway, . ad the two Brecon Road bridges, and the necessary connecting roads. Ho would not agree to the. whole of the midges being put on one side. He did not cay there was any real necessity for increasing the bridge accommodation. But something had to bs done in the way of reasonable compromise to ensure the loan being passed —if one portion of the town was exploited at . the expense of the others the loan would be lost . Cr. Hcalv seconded pro forma.

Cr. Mori son said lie regretted that the Council could not agree about the bridges. He thought tire Council should concentrate its efforts on getting the Victoria Bridge fixed up. He thought the whole Council could pull together on that matter, and his work was the one which would lie of tire most benefit to the whole of the community. He would support Cr. Lawson’s motion.

Cr. Sangster said it would look nice if the Broadway Bridge was widened to its full width, and it would be pleasant to have all the other streets bridged, but, candidly, lie did not think the Borough could afford it. The Victoria Bridge could be loft clone for some ti.lnp to come. They spoke about these big improvements, lint did they consider the rates? By some means or other his rates were higher by 00 per cent, than last year. Cr. King said Cr. Sangster had ; struck the right note when ho mentioned the rates. Ho had been interviewed by a number of people regarding the increased rates, and everybody' lie Intel spoken to had said that he would not support the loan if the rates were further increased. Nothing should bo asked for m the loan except what was absolutely necessary. It was very well to lay drains and make streets, but they should not go in for luxuries. Cr. Boon said ho did not sec the uso of talcing down the Victoria Bridge?; which would he a costly matter. He' would , not mind seeing an estimate taken for repairing the bridge, so that it would last for twenty years or so. Cr. Ward supported the motion. Ho desired to see estimates, but whether or not ho would agree to the matter bring put to the ratepayers was quite another matter. The Mayor: If you put in the Brecon Road bridges the loan will bo lost. Gfi Lawson : If the Victoria Bridge is cut out the loan will also he lost. The amendment was lost, and the motion was carried. those voting against it b°ing Crs. Paget, Sangster, Boon,- and King. VOn the motion of Cr. Paget the Council then adjourned.