PLANNERS IN AGREEMENT

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32604, 12 May 1971, Page 1

PLANNERS IN AGREEMENT

Mr G. D. Griffiths, chairman of the Christchurch Regional Authority, said that the authority agreed with the diversion of Harper Avenue in principle. Studies by the authority’s expert staff had shown it to be the best alternative.

Mr Griffiths w as crossexamined at length, and called on the authority’s director of planning (Mr C. B. Millar) and its traffic engineer (Mr M. Douglass) to give supporting evidence. Mr Douglcss said that eight alternatives to the road through the part had been studied, but none was as satisfactory as the diversion of Harper Avenue. He explained that the Fendalton-Avonside motorway was a link road to the motorway system (being put into effect by the Ministry of Works). It was to siphon traffic that wished to go across Christchurch from east to west and vice-versa, and to be a feeder route into

the central city area without increasing the traffic volume in the existing inner city streets. Mr Douglass, in answer to questions, said that 12 alternative routes to the proposed north, central and southern motorway routes had been examined in conjunction with the proposed FendaltonAvonside motorway. Mr Griffiths, to questions, said that the traffic committee of the regional planning authority had examined the alternatives. He was not sure if all members of the authority had examined the alternatives closely. He said that there were 20 bodies represented by 30 members on the authority. That included seven councils. The City Council had four representatives—all Citizens' Association members—out of the 30.