Tavern-motel plan for Johns Road

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32568, 30 March 1971, Page 18

Tavern-motel plan for Johns Road

The Waimairi County Council yesterday heard an application for the construction of a tavern-motel complex in Johns road opposite the Groynes.

The application was submitted jointly by George Chaffey and Valerie Rosalie Iris Chaffey (Mr J. Woodward) for the construction of a motel-tavern complex on about 19 acres of land at 217 Johns Road.

In his application Mr Chaffey said that he was prepared to build a pedestrian underpass to link his complex

I with the Groynes recreation area and widen the south side of Johns Road in front of the complex. The complex would have motor camp facilities and cater for travellers using State Highway No. 1 who did not want to break their journey in Christchurch city. Mr Chaffey said that there were no other complexes within 20 miles of the one he proposed. The place chosen was directly related to the presence of the Groynes —a popular picnic and recreation area.

Mr Chaffey’s complex would include swimming pool, tennis courts and golf driving range. The application was supported by Reginald Hussey, of 217 Johns Road, who is the owner of the land on which the complex would be built Mr Hussey told the hearing that two-thirds of the land in question was shingle and unsuitable for farming. Objections to the application came from the Regional Planning Authority and D. and E. J. Wynne, of 235 Johns Road.

The hearing also heard an application from G. M. Thackweil (Mr K. J. McMenamin) for a conditional use in a special rural zone for a constructional engineer’s workshop and yard at Empire Road. The application was opposed by the Regional Planning Authority. There were no objections to an application by Monier Tile (N.Z.), Ltd (Mr N. D. Thomson) for a conditional use in a special rural zone for a factory for the manufacture of concrete roofing tiles and other cement products in Empire Road.