Application For Shop Granted

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32303, 22 May 1970, Page 14

Application For Shop Granted

An application for a specified departure to permit building a new grocery shop and living accommodation at the corner of Cashmere Road and Valley Road was granted by the Heathcote County Council last evening.

The application, by Foodstuffs (Christchurch), Ltd (Mr B. J. Drake), was opposed by the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority and by Mr H. E. Taylor, of 77A Cashmere Road. Seventeen people had written supporting the application. Mr Drake said the present shop would be demolished and the new shop would be much larger and would enable a better service to be given. The nearest shop to the site was one-third of a mile away. Mr N. R. Thomas, the merchandising manager of the applicant company, said the present shop had a sales area of 972 sq. ft and was leased to Riverview Store, Ltd. The business traded seven days a week and provided a special service to staff, patrons and visitors of the Karitane, Princess Margaret and Coronation hospitals and the Hohepa Home. Because of the shortage of space it was proposed to demolish the existing buildings and rebuild. Increased storage space would reduce the number of trade deliveries, deliveries would be made to the rear of the premises, off-street parking for at least 12 cars would i be provided, and the area would be landscaped. Mr Drake said the area of the new shop would be about 3000 sq. ft, plus the living accommodation. The lessee of the shop, Mr J. N. Martin, also gave brief evidence. For the Regional Planning Authority, Mr F. S. Robinson, regional planning officer, j said the existence of the shop in the general area was in the public interest, but the site in question was close to the complex intersection of Hackthorne Road and Cashmere Road, which were important primary roads. Mr Robinson said insufficient off-street parking was provided—space for 20 vehicles was needed—and

that access to and from the shop was too close to the corner by regional scheme standards.

The site was not a suitable one for a shop, Mr Robinson said. He agreed the proposed plan would initially improve the situation but said it would perpetuate the problem and worsen it in the future.

Mr Taylor did not appear. His objection was based on detraction from the value of surrounding properties, possible traffic hazard, and that the present shop was large enough. After an adjournment, the council then announced its decision to grant the application, with the conditions that the corner outside the property be rounded at no cost to the council, and that the layout and marking of the car-park, the arrangements for access, the appearance of the building and the landscaping of the area be to the satisfaction of the county engineer (Mr J. M. F. Hamilton).