Traffic Hazard Fears From Motor-Camp

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31304, 25 February 1967, Page 22

Traffic Hazard Fears From Motor-Camp

Opposition from the Methodist Church, residents and the Ministry of Works was expressed when the Waiin a i r i County Council’s town - planning committee heard an application for the establishment of a motor-camp at Yaldhurst road.

It was claimed that the camp would aggravate conditions on the Carmen road intersection, on which fatal accidents have occurred.

Mr and Mrs B. Tewnion (Mr

P. C. M. Straubel) said they had contracted to buy 3 acres 3 roods of land at 372 Yaldhurst road from Mr G. S. Barr, a horse-trainer, and proposed to create a motor-camp. The Abbotts Park motorcamp, 300 yards away on Yaldhurst road, was to close at the end of the month. Abbotts Park had been very successful, catering for between 5000 and 6000 people a year. Its closure would cause a real scarcity of this type of accommodation, and already, said Mr and Mrs Tewnion, they had had inquiries from people who had heard that they proposed to open a camp.

They said that an adjoining land-owner had organised opposition and a petition of objection. Few of those who had signed were conversant with details of the scheme.

They did not agree with Mr and Mrs Meikle that the camp would be an ill-spoken of place, uneconomic, a resort of undesirable types, or an annoyance to neighbours. They said they were prepared to discuss with the Methodist Church aspects of the lay-out, and would see that there was no disturbance.

Mr Straubel submitted letters from residents and a petition from campers, stating that Abbotts Park was wellconducted, and no source of annoyance.

Mr C. A. Willmott, 14 Fovant street, said that the camp proposal was wasteful use of land that could take 20 houses. Mr J. G. Williams, 10 Fovant street, said he spoke for five other property-owners and 14 petitioners. The eamp scheme would lower property values, increase traffic at the dangerous Carmen road corner, and deny residents the right to enjoy their homes without the effects of a camp.

Possible disturbance to church activities was referred to by the Rev. J. D. Grocott, of the Riccarton Methodist Church circuit.

The trustees of St Stephen’s Church, adjoining the land, were concerned at traffic hazards and bad asked Mr Barr to sell land to let the church have a new entrance and carpwridng, he said. “The proposal would affect the work of the church which hae gone on on thia site for nearly a century,” he eaid.

"We are worried about this area. We might be forced out.”

Mr J. J. Dunne, district solicitor of the Ministry of Works, said there was concern that the proposal would interfere with the free flow of traffic on Yaldhurst road, a State highway, and cause undesirable turning movements. If the application were granted, secondary access should be given to Fovant or Bentley streets, and approved access required from the

highway. Mr G. C. Suggate, district design engineer for the Ministry, said that Yaldhurst road averaged 3500 vehicles a day, and this was estimated to grow to 7000 by 1980. Both Waimairi and Paparua Counties had made provision for widening to 99ft, for four traffic lanes, and a median strip.

He knew the Carmen and Russley road intersections were regarded as traffic hazards, and that plans were proposed to improve the position. The camp must aggravate it because of its proximity to Carmen road. Cr. R. C. Neville, chairman of the committee, said a recommendation would be made to the council.

Extensions to a nursing home at 7 Kirkwood avenue were involved in an application by T. van der Boon and Q. C. J. van der Veer.

They asked that the property remain zoned residential A, but that they be allowed to carry on the nursing home, and add to it Cr. Neville said that the only objection had been withdraw. A recommendation would be made to the council.