Board Criticises Street Plan

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32265, 7 April 1970, Page 1

Board Criticises Street Plan

Strong criticism of the proposed closing of the section of Worcester Street which now passes through Latimer Square, and of comments on the closure made by the Mayor (Mr A. R. Gufhrey), were voiced at a meeting of the Christchurch Transport Board yesterday.

Several members of the board spoke on the matter, and the board’s chairman (Mr J. R. Smith) presented a prepared statement criticising the Worcester Street proposal, the handling of the board’s objections, and comments made by Mr Guthrey.

It was decided to send a copy of Mr Smith’s statement to the Christchurch City Council, and to ask the council to call a special meeting with the board to discuss the board's objections to the district planning scheme. Referring to the proposal to close Worcester Street, Mr Smith said in his statement it would appear that either the bus services were totally disregarded as being of importance by those responsible for the planning, or those responsible had little know-

ledge of public passenger transport running. Mr F. S. Blogg said the City Council was “selling the board down the river” on the issue, and was taking more notice of minority pressure groups. “We must raise our voices louder than these other pressure groups,” he said. Mr R. H. Stillwell said that the public was being ignored by the council, and Mr G. A. G. Connal said the Mayor’s comments on television about the closing of Worcester Street suggested be had the issue. “Mayer’s Attitude” “The people we have appealed to over this are the people headed by the Mayor himself. It seemed from his general attitude that he had i prejudged the issue.” he said.

"This is r ridiculous state of affairs.” Mr Smith, in his statement, said the district planning scheme in its present form would create maximum disturbance of the board’s services. The scheme showed the closing of east-bound roads, most of which carried bus services. The board had objected to these proposals. While the board recognised the need for traffic planning, little recognition had been taken of the needs of the board and the bus patrons.

The district scheme showed the closing of Chester Street, Tuam Street, Cashel Street and Ferry Road at the motorway. Worcester Street was shown as closed through Latimer Square, and in addition Armagh Street was to be closed at the motorway, and Cashel Street was to be stopped from running through Linwood Avenue, Mr Smith said. Worcester Street in par ticular was important to the board because 25 per cent of its routes used this street, carrying 1.8 million passengers a year. Cashel Street carried about 1.9 million bus passengers a year. “No Reason” There was no physical reason why Worcester Street had to be closed at Laitimer Square, because the street had free passage under the motorway. The board had objected most strongly to the proposed closing, because 25 per cent of its services would be unnecessarily diverted. At a hearing of objections the board was asked by the City Council to withdraw its objections relating to the closing of Worcester Street, it being understood that the latest proposal was for Worcester Street to remain open through Latimer Square, Mr Smith said. The board therefore made no submissions, and was satisfied the council was proposing to amend its Latimer Square proposal. Subsequently, statements from council quarters indicated it was still intended to close Worcester Street. The board’s works and traffic committee had asked the general manager (Mr J. F. Fardell) to write to the council, on April 1, seeking clarification of the position and asking for a reply, if possible, by April 6. No reply had so far been received, Mr Smith said. “You can imagine my consternation and surprise when on Wednesday last the Mayor appeared on television and announced that citizens need

not be worried about taking part of Latimer square for the one-way traffic system, because this would be more than compensated for by the amount of land regained by the closure of Worcester Street. “Denied Justice”

“It would appear that by asking the board to withdraw Its objection to the closure of Worcester Street at the hearing, the board and the bustravelling public have been denied the rules of natural justice,” Mr Smith said. “I was also disturbed by the way the Mayor lightly treated the question relating to the effect the closure would have on bus services, by dismissing it as a matter for the Transport Board to solve.

“At no time during the planning stage was the board asked to comment on the proposal to close Worcester Street and its effect on the board's services.” Adaed Mileage If the proposal was implemented it would add 15,375 miles a year to the board’s mileage without any compensating return. At peak times it was almost impossible to circumnavigate Latimer Square and weave into the correct lane to return to Worcester Street, and so service would be denied residents between Latimer Square and Fitzgerald Avenue. Having to make turns would delay bus movements. He could only urge and hope the City Council would review the matter, Mr Smith said, because if this was not done then the whole of the proposals for the new layout of Cathedral Square would have to be revised, as neither of the matters could be taken in isolation. Mr S. E. Boanas said his hope was tbat the problem was merely a break-down in communications within the City Council. There must be the least possible number of diversions in bus routes.