Lancaster Park Fire Risk Causes Concern

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30212, 17 August 1963, Page 12

Lancaster Park Fire Risk Causes Concern

The Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Board is to inform the Christchurch City Council that it is gravely concerned that the buildings at Lancaster Park do not comply with building by-laws in respect of fire regulations. The fire board will also tell the council that it is gravely concerned at the lack of progress by the council in ensuring that the Victory Park Board, which administers Lancaster Park, is made to comply with the by-laws.

A resolution to this effect was passed unanimously by the fire board last evening after members had recalled that the Chief Fire Officer (Mr L. R. Osmond) had first criticised fire hazards at the park six years ago.

Mr N. G. Pickering introduced the subject when he referred to the new No. 3 stand now being constructed at Lancaster Park. He said that it had been reported that plans for this stand did not comply with the egress code, but that the Victory Park Board had taken no notice of the city council’s request that the board comply with the code, which was incorporated in the council’s building by-laws.

"Surely this is a matter of concern to this board because of the fire risks involved,” Mr Pickering said. The chairman (Mr W. R. Campbell) said that the board had pressed the matter in the past. The buildings at Lancaster Park should be licensed as public buildings so that the local authority and Chief Fire Officer could do something effective if something defective was found with the buildings. “In fact, four or five years ago this board did take the matter up by recommendations to the City Council, but the Victory Park Board held that the ground, as it was

dedicated, was not subject to the City Council by-laws,” Mr Campbell said. Mr Osmond had occasion to be concerned during a certain football match about persons being in a stand when the exits were not clear. Mr Osmond had also been concerned over the egress in the new No. 1 stand, said Mr Campbell. Mr Osmond said that the board at the time had recommended to the City Council that the grounds and stands at Lancaster Park should be licensed as public ones.

“This was tossed around at the council and resulted, I believe, in a meeting between the council representatives and the Victory Park Board. The same recommendations are made every year by this board to the council but sttill nothing has been done. There are legal opinions on the matter which differ,” said Mr Osmond.

Mr Pickering: I think that it is a very bad state of affairs when a building of that size is being erected at the park and it is not com-

plying with the regulations. Mr Campbell sadd the board should remand the City Council it was still of the same opinion that the buildings at the park should comply with fire safety and building regulations. Mr E. G. McGrath: I think we should go further than that. We should tell the council that we are gravely concerned about the lack of progress being made. “We can only make recommendations. The City Council has the matter in hand at the moment,” said Mr W. E. Olds. “We ought to attack the City Council and ask what the hell they are doing,” Mr McGrath said.

Mr Campbell: They have been fighting. Mr McGrath: They haven’t got very far. Mr Olds: You’re telling me The council has been fighting this one for 30 years.