MOTORWAY IN PARK

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30125, 8 May 1963, Page 8

MOTORWAY IN PARK

Alternatives For Public Once detailed planning had been completed, the proposed motorway across or through North Hagley Park should be submitted for further public examination, Mr E. J. Bradshaw, the chairman, suggested to the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority yesterday. From an engineering and economic point of view the motorway had been proposed to traverse the park, Mr Bradshaw said. As with the whole of the rest of the plan, the motorway was shown on the map* in broad outline. In designing the plan, the planners could have drawn a line around Harper avenue, which would have been less damaging to the park, Mr Bradshaw said. But they had been completely honest and showed a broad outline of a route which was needed for future traffic. Comments, suggestions and alternatives to the motorway would be carefully examined and analysed, Mr Bradshaw assured the members. If there was any tnerit in them, then without a doubt they must be adopted. If, on further examination, the authority found it must return to the original motorway proposal—“and as a layman I feel that will be so”—then detailed planning should be completed for the motorway, using everything possible to keep infringement on the park to a minimum, and subnaiitted to the public, Mr Bradshaw said. “It would then be over to Christchurch to decide whether it wanted the motorway proposal or the secondbest solution to the problem,” he said. If the decision was in favour of the second-best then the additional costs of engineering and taking ol land, as well as safety on the road, would have to be fully considered. Objections to the proposed park motorway were received from the National Historic Places Truat 'Canterbury committee), Christchurch Beautifying Association, Canterbury Pilgrims’ and Early Settlers’ Association, New Zealand Educational Institute, Hagley Golf Club, Canterbury Provincial Golf Association, Canterbury Rugby Football Union, Canterbury Amateur Sports Federation, Canterbury Public Schools’ Amateur" Sports Association, Canterbury Football Association and Canterbury Women’s Cricket Association, 164 letters from individuals (some were signed by more than one, with one having about 80 signatures) and Cr. P. J. SkeUerup enclosing a copy of a petition signed by approximately 1000 persons.

Other comments and suggestions had been made by other associations and citizens, Mr C. B. Millar, the Director of Planning, reported, and the subject had been discussed widely in the newspapers. Correspondence seemed to have been divided 25 per cent, for and 75 per cent, against a road through the park.

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