MOST OBJECTORS FAVOUR MALL

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32221, 13 February 1970, Page 14

MOST OBJECTORS FAVOUR MALL

Most of the objectors to the proposed pedestrian mall in Seaview Road. New Brighton, said last evening that they were in favour of the scheme as long as sufficient parking and goods access were provided.

They were appearing be-l fore the Christchurch City Council town-planning sub-) committee, represented by Cr E. B. E. Taylor (chairman); and Cr B. J. Britten. The representatives of two! service stations (Union' Motors. Ltd. and New Brigh-l ton Service Station. Ltd) said that although these businesses were outside the area! which it was proposed to! close, they would lose heavily from a drop in through traffic. The Commercial Bank of| Australia. Ltd. which doesi not open on Saturday, wanted! the proposed mall to be, dosed to traffic only on Saturdays. Eor the bank. Mr J. E. Cullen said that convenience and security would both be! affected if the bank could not! get vehicles to its doors at' all times during the Monday to Friday week. The general manager of the Christchurch Transport Board (Mr J. F. Fardell) said the proposals would place the bus routes and stops well away from the main shopping area and this could cause elderly people some hardship. Mr Fardell said that buses were permitted in some malls; in Britain, and he suggested 1 they should be admitted to pan of the mall planned for New Brighton. Mr P. C. Sheppard, manager of the New Brighton branch of Beath and Company. Ltd, said that he felt the proposal was generally sound but seriously underestimated the amount of offstreet parking which would be required Officer's Views Presenting the proposal, Mr M. L. Gadd, a City Council technical officer, said it pro-! vided for a pedestrian mall on Seaview Road between Union Street and Marine Par-; ade and also on the short sec-! tion of Oram Avenue between Seaview Road and Beresford Street. The traffic layout in this! area was at present unsatis-l

■lfactory, in that the shopping centre was split by a very ■| busy road, said Mr Gadd. ■'Both vehicular traffic and /pedestrian volumes were extremely high and “vehicle/; ('pedestrian conflict” was par-! i ticularly noticeable on Sea- ■ iview Road. I “It must be stated quite ■ clearly." said Mr Gadd, “that i-this sort of congestion is dan-i i-gerous, tiring and inefficient.' ■ “A considerable amount of i traffic passes up and down Seaview Road in an abortive ’ search for a kerbside space. Banning this traffic entirely I! and introducing a rotary sys- ■ jtem of traffic flow will have the effect not only of remov- . ing the dangerous conflict of . vehicle and pedestrian from Seaview Road but also of sirntiplifying the process of finding t!a parking space." he said.