Environmental plan for Heathcote

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32873, 23 March 1972, Page 14

Environmental plan for Heathcote

Residents of Heathcote Valley have agreed to co-operate with the Christchurch Civic Trust in making an environmental plan of the valley.

Mr P. J. Beaven, a Christchurch architect, who represented the Civic Trust, told those attending a meeting those attending a meeting on Tuesday evening to form a new Heathcote Valley Residents’ Association, that the only solution to the problems facing residents in the valley was to make an environmental plan from Bridle Path Road to the Tunnel Road and to thereby create a perfect village. “Heathcote is the ideal site for such a plan,” Mr Beaven said. “It is situated in a fairly rural area in the form of a village, and it is most necessary to preserve the character of the place.” “The whole valley should be planted thickly to camouflage nearby industry and the dump, buildings should be repainted, community centres and new public buildings should be designed to«fit in with the surroundings, all to emphasise the natural charm and character of the area, and the Malting Company’s help should be engaged in making this possible,” he said.

The scheme would be similar to those for Akaroa, Coromandel and the shingle fan at Mount Cook, Mr Beaven said.

After Mr Beaven’s proposals were accepted by the meeting, the Heathcote Valley Residents’ Association was formed and the constitution of the former residents’ association, which ceased in 1964, was adopted. Officers elected were: chairman, Mr N. Scoles; deputychairman, Mr B. L Fitzwilliam; committee, Messrs K. Glasson, L. Wells, F. Singleton, B. Caldwell, R. Spence, N. Watkins, P. Spence, E. Taylor, J. Byers, W. Hindmash and Mrs J. Coles.