British Planner Invited To Advise On Town Hall

Press, Volume C, Issue 29516, 18 May 1961, Page 14

British Planner Invited To Advise On Town Hall

Sir William Holford, professor of town planning at the University of London, who planned the rebuilding of the precincts of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, will be invited to Christchurch by the City Council to advise it on the site, and all other matters he thinks appropriate, of the town hall and planning of a civic centre.

Recommending that the “slate should be wiped clean” of all preconceived ideas and prejudices, the town hall committee said Sir William Holford should be given a free hand. Each councillor should resolve to adopt and “implement with due diligence” the recommendation he might ake.

i The committee said it had continued negotiations with the Canterbury Club, which had firmly rejected an earlier offer of £75,000. After the decision of the 'Town and Country Planning Appeal Board zoning the frontage of the club’s land as commercial, the committee ihad suggested that valuers ' representing both sides ; might confer with a view to reaching an agreement on ’price. The committee had also indicated that the counjcil might make available (land facing Latimer square, (that it believed adjoining land could be acquired and that both pieces would provide a satisfactory alterna(tive site. “The club’s reply to this last approach is that it is not (Willing to sell,” the committee said.

! "The committee therefore ’ reports that it is firmly convinced that this site cannot be acquired by negotiation.” Three Principles

The committee had then (considered the next step, and its thinking had been governed by three dominant principles:— The desire to proceed with the building of a town hall Tor Christchurch with reasonable expedition. The importance for the Tuture of Christchurch of 'choosing the right site.

The desirability of unifying public opinion. “The committee is concerned that with the substantial sum of' £200.000 in hand and the town hall beginning to be regarded as a reality, the citizens of Christchurch should be divided on the issue of location,” the committee said. “The committee has, therefore, sought a method of resolving the question which would enable further progress with the project, which would be acceptable to the great majority of the citizens and which would spontaneously be recognised as effective a means as possible to ensure that the right decision is made. "The council, as the elected government of the city, should make a strong appeal to all (citizens to put from their minds all their previouslyheld opinions, and accept and act upon the advice of a man whose knowledge and experience could provide for Christchurch a plan which would command the admiration of those who followed, just as we in our day commend those who laid out Cathedral square. “Free Hand” “There must be no question of Sir William Holford being asked to confirm or condemn the choice of any particular site,” the committee said. “It may well be that he will not select any of the I various sites that have been considered or mentioned,” it said. “In addition to selection ,of a site, Sir William Holiford would be able to give invaluable advice as to the 'planning of the precinct, the I size and amenities of a town I hall, having regard to the city’s future growth, the economics of the proposition and (the attendant traffic probI lems. i “His choice would have considerable advantage over other methods of reaching finality as to site, because, not only would we have his deIcision on the most desirable -site, but as well we would j have all the suggestions and advice he could give on incidental but nevertheless important matters concerning the project.”

The engagement of Sir William Holford was by no means a reflection on the panel of architects which had selected a site from a number submitted, the committee said. It believed ' the architects would applaud the decision to invite an outside authority.

“It is again emphasised that this is an entirely fresh approach, with a view to finding a solution acceptable to the people of Christchurch,” the committee concluded. Connell Lead

“If we can reach unanimity, then the people who elected us would probably follow the council’s lead and become of one mind on the issue.” said Cr. H. P. Smith, chairman of the com. mittee.

He emphasised that Sir William Holford must be given a completely free hand.

“This could be a way out of a regrettable impasse,” said Cr. H. G. Hay. Sir Wil. liam Holford would be able to give advice on other matters of city planning. “He is probably the top man on planning in the British Commonwealth,” he said. "The cost of bringing him to New Zealand might be shared by other cities which would welcome his advice. Any money spent will be money wisely spent.”

There had been, delays over five years. Cr. Hay said. Once his decision was made, then the council should go ahead and obtain the necessary land, using the Public Works Act if necessary, so there would be no more delay, Cr. Hay said. “Members of the Canterbury Club have considerable influence in the community.” Cr. R M. Macfarlane, MP. said. “If they did not have that influence, a good deal of the difficulty we are con. fronted with now would not be with us.

“I hope the question of influence will be regarded by all sections of the community as well as by the council, and that Sir William Hol. ford will be left completely untrammelled in his investigation. We have a newspaper which right from the start has been strenuously against the idea of acquiring the club site. I hope the newspaper will also recognise that he should be left completely free to perform the task we are asking him to do. Otherwise it will be futile for us to ask him to come.” . But he had no doubt that a man of Sir William Holford’s standing would “tell them where to go to.” if anyone tried to influence him. Cr. G. D. Griffiths said ne was sure the architects would welcome the decision Use of Act “He may pick on the site which has been debated over the last few years,” said Cr. P. J. Skellerup. “If he does, then it falls on us to invoke the Public Works Act without further ado.” What did the people of Christchurch want when they talked about a town hall? asked Cr. A. S. Hollander. The council had not got down to a real basis of how much land was required and what was to be provided.

The ratepayers would have to pay for the cost of a town hall, but there had been no real estimate of the cost, he said.

The indoor sports stadium at Cuthberts Green and Canterbury Court at the Addington Showgrounds may have relieved the demand tor accommodation which was envisaged when the town hall was first proposed. Cr. Hollander said.

Unless the council knew it could obtain any site .chosen by the consultant, it might

find it was no better off than at present, he said. "I am emphatically in favour of a town hall for Christchurch, but I seek this information so I can vote properly,” Cr. Hollander added. “We are councillors of no: mean city ,and we are ask-i ing Sir William to come here, for the good of the city not: just for today, but for 50 and 100 years hence,” said Cr. W. S. Mac Gibbon. “I still stick to the judgment I arrived at previously, but to have something on which we can make progress. I support this." said the Mayor (Mr G. Manning).! There had been unanimity, on most occasions when the! council had discussed the! town hall. Sir William Holford should be informed not only of the traditional approach of! the people of Canterbury on the use of reserves, the Mayor said. "We have to bear in mind ’ not just what this city can afford now, but what it can afford in the future,” Cr. A. R. Guthrey said. He was sure that the terms of reference, would include all the matters raised by Cr. Hollander. To Cr. Hollander, Cr. Smith said he was concerned that the council should make its resolution with its ranks closed. “We must ask Sir William, for his advice on a large place of assembly having re-, gard to all the facts, which we will put before him,” he, said. "I have no doubt he can give us the answer on what we should have in size.” , There would have to be some very careful work on the order of reference. Of a question by Cr. Hollander on whether help could; be expected from other local bodies. Cr. Smith said the ratepayers of Christchurch l were providing many amen- • ities for the metropolitan area. Every local body i recognised ’ts responsibil-] ity to make a contribution ! be* was unable to say what the contribution would be until the cost was known.

“Some day someone will bless us for our wisdom in spending a comparatively small amount for the benefit of thj Christchurch of the future,” he said.