Objections Heard On Fendalton Rd. Plan

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30980, 9 February 1966, Page 14

Objections Heard On Fendalton Rd. Plan

Suggestions that if Fendalton road between Harper avenue and the railway had to be widened, it would be better done on the east side rather than by taking land on both sides of the road, were strongly opposed by east-side residents when the Waimairi County Council’s town-planning committee yesterday heard objections to its proposals.

Widening is proposed as part of the city’s master traffic plan, and the Regional Planning Authority’s traffic engineer (Mr M. Douglass) said that the proposals were not ambitious, were designed to reduce the amount of property damage, and were essential for safety. This morning, the committee will hear objections to the widening proposals for Fendalton road from the railway crossing to Memorial avenue, and to the council’s proposals for rezoning the shopping area at the Clyde road intersection. No decisions will be announced until the committee has reported to the council. “Too Unfair” The proposals were too unfair to residents, said Mr C. C. Bateman, of 12 Fendalton road. Modern houses would be badly devalued, and their residents would suffer mental strain through having traffic too dose. “Traffic, even petrol tankers, races now, and this must get worse with a four-lane road,” he said. “I understand you propose to take 13ft either side. If that is done, I will have to use a goods lift to get the car into my basement garage,” said Mr H. E. Radley, of 2 Fendalton road. The original widening had been accepted as final by residents who did not want to see heavy expense incurred until the council had at least tried the merits of one-way traffic. The present one-way route via Rossall and Rhodes streets to Carlton Mill road worked well. Soon after the widening had been mooted in 1961, he had been given council permission to build within 19ft of the roadway, said Mr H. S. Cook, 10 Fendalton road. “The council estimates that double the present number of cars will be using the road by 1980. If that is so, the city won’t be big enough to hold them ” he said.

Mr Cook said that widening should not be do e on the east side of Fendalton road in this area as new houses, built close to the street, were on shallow sections. On the west side, there were older houses on bigger sections, and all widening should be done there. Mr C. E. W. Averill, for the estate of C. J. McCaughan. i said the estate owned two flats at the corner of Wood lane and Fendalton road. If Fendalton road were set back 13ft, the flats would be 7ft from the road. The owners were aware of this when they bought in 1964, and objected to any proposal to widen by 26ft on the west side, where the flats were. If this were done, whole properties would become valueless, and the council would face heavy compensation payments. Both Mr W. G. Quirk, 70 Fendalton road, and Mr G. B. McCredie, 55 Fendalton road, objected to notification of the hearing by advertisement, saying registered letters should have been sent to property owners. Mr Quirk said that his neighbour had been away and had been unaware of the hearings until told verbally, and Mr McCredie said he, too, had been overseas, and heard of the hearings 10 days ago. Mr Quirk said that Papanui and Riccarton roads, main highways, were onechain roads, yet Fendalton road, the route to the airport, was to be two chains wide. That, he thought, was excessive. His door would be 6ft from the road, his valuation would be affected, and his foundations could suffer. Need Not Seen

Mr McCredie said he had lived on Fendalton road since 1933, and saw no need for the widening. He had no difficulty in turning out of his gate ,and foresaw none. It was far too ambitious a project. Mr H. O. Jacobsen, for Mrs N. McCormack, owner of three-quarters of an acre on the south side of Wood lane and Fendalton road, said the comer lot would be reduced to 17.2 perches, and could not

be used as a building section.

The taking of 13ft was unnecessary and excessive, and the Bft median strip a waste that could be eliminated to save the taking of frontages. Seven to 10 years ago, the Fendalton road bridge had been widened to a chain, and the road to 90ft. There was no need for further widening, said Mr F. H. Steel, 8 Fendalton road. Objecting on behalf of himself and his wife, Mr A. J. McGillivray, 61 Fendalton road, said that as the proposed route would be “right through” their home, he would like compensation as soon as possible so that he could build a new home. Supporting the council’s proposals, Mr Douglass said that the widening plan was the outcome of six years of serious endeavour by the council and the Regional Planning Authority. It aimed to do the least possible property damage, and give Fendalton road its best capacity in terms of the master traffic plan. “This is not an ambitious design for this curving road,” he said. “With four lanes, there has to be a median (1) for safety, (2) for lighting, which can only be done satisfactorily from the centre, (3) to stop headlight dazzle on the curves by planting the median, and (4) to give a route of importance a pleasant appearance.” “Only Problem”

“The only problem to be solved is that of compensation, and I hope that will be resolved equitably and expeditiously.” Cr. O. C. Mtchell asked Mr Douglass to say why Papanui and Riccarton roads, which would have more traffic by 1980, would not have medians.

“The Regional Authority has never said that Riccarton and Papanui roads will have more traffic than Fendalton road by 1980,” said Mr Douglass. “Motorways will relieve Riccarton and Papanui roads, but not Fendalton road.”

To further questioning, Mr Douglass said that 15,000 vehicles a day would be “about the limit” for Papanui and Riccarton roads, with relief by motorways. Fendalton road’s figure would be about the same. He did not see how one-way traffic would work.

“What about Helmore’s lane?” asked the committee chairman (Cr. R. C. Neville). “Why Spread Damage?”

Mr Douglass: Why spread the damage? With one-way traffic, big expenditure would be incurred in Rossall street improvements. Cr. Mitchell: Will the Fendalton road speed limit be raised from 30 m.p.h. to 50 m.p.h?—The authority does not envisage that. The median strip is essential at 30 m.p.h. To Cr. R. C. Harrow, Mr Douglass said he did not favour a central wall. One had had to be placed on the Sockburn overbridge. If a wall were put up, it could be covered with creeper, but it would be hard to get anything to grow or survive. Mr McGillivray asked when the work would start. “I can’t answer that,” said Mr Neville. “We are now trying to get agreement on the plan. Then we have to consider finance, and that will depend on the National Roads Board.” Objections to corner widening at Kotare and Weka streets from J. H. and D. M. Polson and E. G. and M. O. Bonniface had been withdrawn as the objectors were now agreeable to a maximum three-chain radius corner, said the council’s town-plan-ning officer (Mr M. Parker). The hearings were adjourned until this morning.