HAGLEY PARK TO HAVE FENCE IN HARPER AVENUE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29672, 16 November 1961, Page 17

HAGLEY PARK TO HAVE FENCE IN HARPER AVENUE

A concrete post and pipe nil fence around Hagley Park tn Harper avenue will replace the present hedge and old wire fence, the city Council decided Liat evening. The decision was made after a long debate tn which several councillors opposed any fenctnr of the area. The council rescinded a deetson reached tn June to have the park open and a kerb and channel Dull. The reserves committee reported that no provision had been made on the estimates for the construction of kerbs and channels. Recent vandalism to trees and a gate post in Harper avenue supported the need for an effective fence, which was also necessary to keep motor vehicles off the Hagley Golf Club s putting greens. Cycle traffic came out of Hagley Park at fixed exits which were known to motorists using the avenue, the committee added. Without a fence, some cyclists would make new tracks across the pars and endanger their lives by crossing the avenue at random.

There was a natural grass kerb to deter motorists from encroaching on the park said Or. A. R. Guthrey, who opposed the erection of a fence.

Fences ware put round the park orgmally to keep out stock, said Cr. Guthrey. “We are not justified In Putting up any sort of fence or kerb," he said. “We should remove the old fence and wait and see what happens.” Be also opposed a plan of the National Roads Board to put up a fence in Deans avenue from Moorhouse avenue to Blenheim road. “Remove the fences and you have a glorious vista of the park,” he said. He proposed that the live fences in Harper avenue and Deans avenue should be removed and that the Ministry of Works should be asked aot to proceed with the pipe and rail fence proposed for Moorhouse avenue to Bien-he-im road.

Cr. M. R. Carter said he could see no reason for the fence. In Little Hagley Park, which was not fenced, there naa been trouble with cars, said Cr. W. E. Olds. ‘They have straddled the grass kerb again and again.” “Hardy Annual” Cr. W. P. Glue, who described the subject as a “hardy annual,” said: “If you pull the fences out you will have cars driving over the putting greens. A post and rail fence will not affect the view of the park.” “I suppose you have a fence around your own property for protection." said Cr.

M. McLean to Cr. Guthrey, before the Mayor (Mr G. Manning) called her to order “to address the chair.” “In England there are areas where there are no fences and gipsies are allowed to camp for as long as they like,” Cr. McLean continued. “We will have people camping in our park and be able to do nothing about it I am in favour of fences around the park.” Ivy could be grown along the railings and the fence would become a “thing of beauty.” said Cr. G. D. Hattaway. Vandalism was rife and something must be done for protection of the park. Grass Edge Barrier He would not give credence to talk of vandalism, said Cr. H. P. Smith. “We have a lot of vandalism, and there is ample proof that small fences and big fences do not deter it. There are plenty of places where you can drive your car on to the park. If you want some barrier, then let us do it by building up the grass edge.

He could not see that a small fence was going to spoil the view of the park, said the Mayor. The Park would look a great deal better with a rail fence than it did at present with the untidy hedge, Cr. W. S. Mac Gibbon said. To those concerned about the beauty of the park, Cr. A. S. Hollander advised a walk through the park and the Botanic Gardens. “They will see all the beauty they want and be more than ever convinced of the need for protection against vandalism of a fence.” “We must have a fence there,” said the chairman of the committee (Cr P. J. Skelleruip). The committee’s report gave the reasons, he said. When he was in Australia recently, all the directors of reserves he had seen had said that they did not like fences but regretted that they were necessary. The proposal for no fence was then defeated, as was an amendment by Cr. G. D. Griffiths asking that the existing fence be removed and a kerb be built.