Residents object to “cottage industry"

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33046, 13 October 1972, Page 18

Residents object to “cottage industry"

Plans by Mr K. T. Marriott to establish what he described as a cottage industry with a wood-bending workshop at Governor’s Bay were opposed by 15 residents, the Governor’s Bay Community Association and the Canterbury Education Board when the Mount Herbert County Council held a town-planning hearing.

A petition signed by 60 objectors was not admitted because it was lodged too late. The council reserved its decision. Mr Marriott said he wanted to have the woodbending factory in a shed, 40ft x 23ft, alongside the house on his two-acre property at Merlincote Terrace. The shed would be surrounded by trees. He wanted to bend timber for colonial furniture, vintage car parts and frames of various sorts, and noise would be virtually nil from the hydraulic bender and the steaming plant. “This will be no full-scale industry. I want to live in semi-retirement and retain an interest in my business. This will be something of a cottage industry, and will not cause any nuisance,” said Mr Marriott. “I will be happy to accept any conditions set by the council, and would restrict operations to my lifetime.” About half the objecting residents spoke to their letters, among which were three from residents at present overseas. They complained that the factory would create noise, more traffic, cause a devaluation of residential property and create a precedent.

If the application were granted, there would be an appeal, said Mr J. H. M. Dawson, appearing for Miss M. C. Barker. The site is near the school, and an objection was made for the Canterbury Education Board by its assistant general manager (Mr J. F. Dysart). He objected to the proposed use by the factory of 500 gallons of water a week, the noise, and the detraction from the worth of the surroundings. For the community association, Mr G. D. Kirk said that a meeting of 100 residents had unanimously decided to oppose the application “in the strongest possible terms, and would not agree to any departure.”