Avon environment “a delight”

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32541, 26 February 1971, Page 10

Avon environment “a delight”

The unspoiled and uncommercialised A v on River environment in the centre of Christchurch was a delight, said Mr P. Ritter, a Perth town - planning consultant, yesterday. “The canoes among the fountains in the river and the

unsoiled banks lovers’ walks create a natural environment that surpasses anything I have seen in the 150 cities of 20 countries in which I have lectured,” said Mr Ritter. He made the following comments on Christchurch: The Town Hall: "Exciting rooflines over the trees lining the river add greatly to the townscape. It is essential that Victoria Square be developed as a Town Hall precinct, where people can walk, talk, sit, and lunch." Christ’s College: “The blending of the modem blocks with the old ones has been done sensitively, and combines with the traditional architecture of the museum—except that the red-brick building at the college (Richards House) sticks out like

a sore thumb. It should be covered in ivy, then flattened to appear like lawn.” The Botanic Gardens: “They are really splendid for such a young city. The trees are magnificent. The gardens should greatly encourage the people of Christchurch as a demonstration of what can be done in planning in a relatively short time.” The Chief Post Office: A wonderful building architecturally, which I should be very sorry not to see when I come back in a few years, if only because it will more and more relieve monotony in the buildings round the Square.” Cathedral Square: "The more vehicular traffic kept out of it the better: You must push ahead with plans for

pedestrian malls round the Square as soon as possible. They will be an extension of the Avon environment you are so fortunate to enjoy.” Freeways: "Christchurch must keep freeways and motorways out of the city centre. Perth has just dropped a plan for a freeway ringing the heart of the city. I was against the plan from the start.” Mr Ritter was the youngest architect to become a member of the council of the Royal Institute of British Architects. He is a Czech, bom in Sudetenland, and spent 25 years in Britain before going to Perth as City Planner and Architect. He was dismissed from his planning post but was awarded $4OOO damages for wrongful dismissal. He was awarded that sum in a settlement out of court after he had been elected a member of the Perth City Council. Mr Ritter is stilt a councillor and a member of the town planning committee. While Perth City Planner, he executed the first strategic plan for a city in Australia. He is also director of the Planned Environment and Education Research Institute, which has been given $40,000 for the production of a book, “Planning in Australia.” Mr Ritter has already written nine books on planning, the best known being “Planning for Man and Motor." “The most essential thing in planning, I feel, is for the planners to get their message to the public when the plans are still in the ideas stage,” he said. “If the public is frustrated, the planner is frustrated. Planning is for the people, and by letting the people know, I have been prevented from making awful boobs.”