Changes in Square being considered

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32846, 21 February 1972, Page 14

Changes in Square being considered

The City Council Labour Party's caucus at the week-end discussed moves to make Cathedral Square a quieter and more tranquil place, said the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr N. G. Pickering) last evening.

“We consider that the Square, as the central focus of the city, is in many. respects not truly representative of the city’s image, and on frequent occasions activities in the Square are rot a good advertisement for the city,” said Mr Pickering.

He said there had been,' some discussion about the < possibility of excluding pri-;i vate traffic from the Square) at certain periods. The caucus was agreed that 1 no move to exclude private 1 traffic would be taken with- < out a through investigation of 1 public opinion, including surveys of resultant traffic pat- 1 terns and effects on shoppings habits. 11 "As Mayor, I shall be see-)i Ing the police, the Transporth Department and the Trans-1 ] port Board about ideas to-li

iwards restoring tranquility to Cathedral Square,” said Mr Pickering. i He said the plans drawn up Iby the previous City Council to alter the traffic flows in the Square and alter its layout were under consideration by' the works committee. Mr Pickering said that alterations to traffic through ,the Square might well be dependent on the provision of more off-street parking in its 1 vicinity by both private enter- • prise and the local authoriIties.