Ministry of Works appeal dismissed

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 8

Ministry of Works appeal dismissed

The Town and Country Planning Appeal Board has dismissed an appeal by the Ministry of Works against a decision of the Rangiora County Council to allow the sub-division of land on the east side of Cust.

The appeal was heard by the board in Christchurch on Monday and was lodged on the grounds that the development would detrimentally effect State Highway 72, did not conform to town planning

principles and would not be in the public interest. Announcing the board’s decision yesterday, the chairman (Mr A. R. Turner, S.M.), said the reasons would be given in writing later. “I think I can say that the Minister does have certain powers open to him to prevent further development of properties fronting this state highway and the county council should ensure that further development takes place off the state highway,’’ he said. The board yesterday authorised land at 237 and 233 Gloucester Street and 256 Armagh Street to be used as car parks by Redborough Gardens, Ltd.

The company told the board that it intended to demolish the house at 237 Gloucester Street to provide car parks for the Stonehurst private hotel to which a restaurant would soon be added.

The need for car parking spaces would thereby be considerably increased. Parking space over and above the provision of off-street car parking was in the public interest because of its shortage. The site was suitable because four entrances were available for dispersing traffic on to Gloucester, Armagh, Barbadoes and Madras Streets via Gressons Lane. The application was granted provided landscaping was done.

Davis Cup.—Chile advanced to the second round of the South American zone of the Davis Cup by beating Colombia, 3-2. Racer killed.—The Spanish racer, R. J. del Valle, aged 22, was killed during the annual seventeenth national Magdalena trophy motor-cycle race.