Conflict Of Evidence On Traffic Effects

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31380, 27 May 1967, Page 14

Conflict Of Evidence On Traffic Effects

After hearing conflicting evidence as to the extent to which traffic could be affected. The Town and Country Planning Appeal Board yesterday adjourned until Tuesday an application by Straven Services, Ltd., to have a petrol station and lubrication bay near the corner of Straven and Fendalton roads.

The appeal, part-heard on Thursday, is opposed by the Waimalri County Council, the Regional Planning Authority, and 87 Individual objectors, and when it was adjourned yesterday, final submissions by counsel had not been made.

The board comprised Messrs J. W. P. Watts, R. R. Beaumont, L. P. Blunt and C. M. Turner. Mr P. T. Mahon appeared for Straven Services, Ltd., Mr B. W. McClelland for the council, Mr J. N. Matson for the Regional Planning Authority and Mr W. R. Lascelles for individual objectors. Mr Mahon said the company had owned two lots on Straven road at its Fendalton road intersection since 1935, and In October, 1963, asked the council for permission to put up a building for lubrication, move two existing kerb-side pumps inside the land, and to install two more pumps. The corner block would be left clear for visibility, he said. In March, 1964, and again in June, 1964, the council’s town planning committee had recommended in favour; but on each occasion, the council had declined permission, with only five councillors present on the second occasion, and on the chairman's casting vote on the first. Mr Mahon said the company had appealed. The appeal was dismissed, and the application was taken to the Supreme Court, which directed that the appeal be re-heard. The council’s objection was that the petrol station would interfere with free traffic flow, said Mr Mahon. The Regional Planning Authority’s objection simply was that it did not want petrol stations on or near a corner, that no plan or proposals would meet its objections. Mr J. G. Hutchison, a director of the company, said the council had just declined to approve a third modification of the lay-out plan, on the

ground that the petrol station would create a traffic hazard. Mr A. E. Forsyth, a traffic consultant, gave evidence to support the company’s view that the petrol station would not conflict with traffic. Consultant’s Evidence Evidence that the proposed entrances to the station would be far enough away from the site to avoid interference with Straven road-Fendalton road intersection traffic was given for the company by Miss N. Northcroft, a townplanning consultant, and Mr L. A. Mahoney, sales superintendent of Europa OU (N.Z.), Ltd. “Basically, a petrol staUon should not be placed on a busy intersection, particularly one that wiU be controlled by traffic lights, and this one will be,” said Mr McClelland, opening for the council. “It

is much better not to create the hazard.”

The Transport Department’s standards for petrol stations required no entrances within 100 ft of busy intersections, said Mr D. C. Andreassend, a departmental traffic engineer. In this proposal, the distance was just 100 ft “This is not a suitable locality for a petrol station, which, ideally, should be in a commercial area,” he said. “Even the company’s latest proposal is not satisfactory.” Growing Problem The Transport Department’s senior traffic inspector (Mr A. Goldsmith) said he did not think the company’s plans got over traffic problems, which would grow with the build-up of traffic on the intersection. “To grant this would be a jarring and unwarranted concession to commercialism,” said Mr H. W. Simpson, of 6 Royds street, who gave evidence of 87 residents petitioning the council not to allow the service station because it would prejudice amenities, lower values, and create traffic problems.

Similar evidence was given by Dr. L. H. Cordery, of 105 Fendalton road, adjoining the company’s land. The application was condemned on traffic grounds and as being detrimental to local amenities by Mr K. Tyler, the regional authority's planning officer. Petrol stations should not be allowed in residential areas except in special cases, he said.