The Press WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1949. Civic Centre

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25736, 23 February 1949, Page 4

The Press WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1949. Civic Centre

The proposal to provide Christ-, church with a civic centre, including ’ a town hall, which the City Council approved in principle on Monday evening, means the taking over of a considerable amount of land and the expenditure of a very large sum of money. The project as a whole is ambitious. It is also, in kind, laudably so. But the council has described it only in vaguely general terms; and the ratepayers and the rest of the public need to know more exactly what the council intends and what are the “ pre-

“ liminary steps ” it has in mind. Only one has been indicated: to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for permission to raise a loan of about £500,000 and to hold the necessary poll of ratepayers. But -it will strike many citizens that other and earlier preliminaries are essential. Among the first considerations are the form and functions of the proposed centre, and who is to be consulted about the purposes to be served and what is accordingly required. The council and its officers, it is not ungracious to say or even to insist, cannot’ answer these questions independently and should not try to do so. Second—many will consider it the first point of all—the council's choice of a site seems to be implied with a finality that the circumstances do not quite warrant. There are other sites, and good ones; they have their advantages, which some will certainly think superior. The issue should not be closed before it is opened, or even explained. Third, there is the related question of how the surroundings of any site can be controlled to prevent developments which may destroy or impair its advantages. Fourth, a clear and early understanding is necessary about the drawing of the designs, when all prior decisions have been taken. A project of this nature calls for the best architectural skill that can be engaged—perhaps by competition. These ate questions the council needs to deal with as preliminaries; and there are others. The ratepayers’ consent will depend very largely on the care and skill with which the council approaches them. At this stage, looking at the housing situation and the difficulties in the way of major building work, the council may foresee a long middle period, during which a general sketch can be transformed into, a clear and detailed picture of the project. It will be a mistake to trust to time, ’’’he project will not be made intelligible and acceptable by fits and starts of effort. If the council is serious, it will have to show that it takes the project seriously; and it can do so only by taking very seriously the need to explain it convincingly to the citizens and to win their co-operation.