Residents “Dismayed” By Hotel Exit Plan

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31983, 9 May 1969, Page 15

Residents “Dismayed” By Hotel Exit Plan

If Carlton Hotel patrons were allowed to leave the car parks via a right-of-way to Rastrick Street, a witness told the Special Town and Country Planning Appeal Board yesterday, it would be an escape route for those who wanted to avoid the breath analyser test. For the hotel, it was said that the exit was an essential part of a s2m development plan.

Residents of Rastrick Street, a narrow lane leading from Papanui Road to Carlton Mill Road along the north side of the hotel car parks, were called to support an appeal bv Mrs V. H. G. Gould, 21 Rastrick Street, against a Christchurch City Council decision to allow car-park exit to the street Messrs B. A. Barrer and A. C. Brasrington appeared for objectors, with Mr R. K. Godfrey for Carlton Hotel (Christchurch) Ltd and Mr A. Hearn for the City Council. Mr Barrer said that Rastrick Street residents were mainly elderly folk in an oldsettled residential zone. They objected very strongly to “back door*’ hotel traffic.

Three years ago, when the then City Council gave the hotel a conditional use to enable adjoining land to be used for parking, access to or from Rastrick Street was refused.

“It appears that the council has been persuaded now to change its mind, much to the dismay of the residents," Mr Barrer said. Last December, the council had told the hotel's lawyers that exit, but not ingress, would be allowed via Rastrick Street, and that the city engineer had been asked to consider plans for widening the street A left turn was required into Rastrick Street to stop access to Papanui Road. If the street were widened, he claimed, it would not only produce more traffic, but would virtually wipe Out the homes there.

Defending Homes “These people feel they are defending their homes, not in the usual way against the imposition of public utilities such as a highway, but against a public company operating for profit which wants to extend its activities,” he said. A right-of-way from the car park to Rastrick Street was now blocked by a brokendown truck, Mr Barrer said. It bad been blocked by a chain; but this had been knocked down and was now covered by timber. Mrs Gould said her home was opposite the right-of-way. She entertained many distinguished overseas visitors, mainly people in the theatre, as the theatre was her life. “There is a tendency for the right-of-way to be used by the almost-tipsy section,” she said. “There is noise. I had a rose bush pulled out, and beer bottles left in the garden. Drunks come out the back way because they are not presentable to leave by the front door.

“Drunken women being lifted over the chain gave so much entertainment to children that it was soon knocked down. There are some very unpleasant sights. This creates a very poor impression on overseas visitors who believe this to be a nice country.” Asked by Mr Godfrey if she bad complained, Mrs Gould replied: “Sure thing, with knobs on. Twice to the hotel and twice to the police.” This, she said, had been before 10 p.m. closing. Things were better now, but there was still trouble. "Roaring” Can Mr W. A. 8. Clark, manager of the Government Life Office, said cars roared past his homo at the corner of Rastrick Street and Tonbridge Street Those "in the know” turned left from the ear park into Papaniu Road, then left into Rastrick Street, and into Carlton Mill Road, avoiding two sets of traffic lights. Rastrick Street could not cope with more traffic. “I object to the right-of-way through which the hotel company Aopes to provide a back door rt>r customers who have

had one over the eight escaping the officer with the breathalyser,” said Mr C. W. Champion, a retired company manager, of 15 Rastrick Street He said Rastrick Street had only 17ft 9in of carriageway and the hotel had ample frontage to let cars use Papanui Road or Bealey Avenue. Council policy on widening Rastrick Street had not been resolved, said the council’s traffic engineer (Mr M. L. Gadd). Under the district planning scheme it was intended to widen under-width The Rastrick Street exit would give better traffic arrangements, but when the hotel was to be redeveloped, the whole question of access would have to be reconsidered. It would be desirable to widen Rastrick Street between the proposed exit and Papanui Road. Were the owners prepared to dedicate the land, he would recommend the council to widen as soon as possible. If the exit were allowed, he would recommend a parking prohibition on both sides of Rastrick Street. “Never Troubled”

Mrs J. C. Smith, of 18 Rastrick Street, said she had lived next to the hotel for some years and was now a tenant in a house owned by the company, next to the right-of-way. The hotel was very well run and she had never been troubled by noise, or by parties in cars. Mrs Gould and her friends used the hotel car-park. Mr P. Yeoman, a consulting engineer, said there would be parking for 153 cars after the redevelopment of the hotel. The use of Rastrick Street would clear Merivale traffic via Winchester Street, and relieve Papanui Road. Mr C. J. Booth, the hotel manager, said he had found no evidence of bottles and rubbish being discarded by patrons. He had never had a complaint about unruly behaviour.

To Mr Barrer, he said the Papanui Road and Bealey Avenui exits could be enlarged. Mr A. R. O’Malley, manag-

ing director of the hotel company, said it was intended at first to build a conference wing and restaurant at a cost of $200,000. and while all authorities had approved of the scheme in principle, its starting date was contingent on the appeal. A second stage envisaged multi-storey blocks on Papanui Road. To Mr Barrer, he said the City Council’s traffic department regarded the Rastrick Street exit as essential. The complete development would cost s2m, he told the chairman (Mr J. H. Luxford). Mr Luxford, reserving a decision, said the board would inspect the site and surroundings ______