Appeal on motor lodge

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33093, 7 December 1972, Page 10

Appeal on motor lodge

The Special Town and Country Planning Appeal Board yesterday began hearing appeals against a decision of the Christchurch City Council allowing Avon Motor Lodge to build a sixstorey bedroom block in Oxford Terrace. The appellants are the Christchurch Civic Trust, Miss D. B. White, and two others, E. and J. Locke. Their appeals are based on the claim that the Christchurch City Council overlooked boundary requirements and the effects on the ammenities of the area when it granted the application. The board comprises Mr W. T. M. Treadwell S.M. (chairman) and Messrs H. M. Besley, A. M. Linton and G. T. Boker. Appearing for the Avon Motor Lodge is Mr G. Mahon, for the City Council Mr J. G. Leggat, for the Civic Trust Mr G. S. Brockett and Mr C. B. Atkinson and Mr A. Hearn for other appellants. Maurice Rhodes Carter, managing director of Avon Motor Lodge said the motel units the company proposed was a block containing motels only. It comprised bedroom accommodation but no provision for dining rooms, bars or other services. It was for residential services only. Existing facilities in dining rooms and bars were adequate to meet the additional demand created by extensions.

He said the lodge had enjoyed a 74 per cent occupancy rate in the last two years and during peak

periods had had to refuse many bookings. The lodge had also had to refuse accommodation for a large conference in July. 1973, and indications from the Commonwealth Games Committee indicated that accommodation would be urgently needed. Miss Nancy Northcroft, a consultant town planner, said the application to the City Council complied in all respects with the district scheme except in two minor matters. These concerned the widths of the two yards on the south and east sides of the proposed new blocks. The two yards should each be 40ft wide but the south yard was 4ft 6 in less than required and the east yard was 7ft sin less than that required and another small part 15ft 9in less. Miss Northcroft did not think these shortcomings materially detracted from the situation. She was satisfied that the proposed block and the layout proposals would not detract from the amenities of the neighbourhood. Bruce Henry Williams, a civil engineer employed by the Christchurch City Council, said access off Oxford Terrace to the car park was quite acceptable but access to Hurley Street from the parking area should be restricted to “out” traffic only. William Thomas Williams, a surveyor of the Christchurch City Council, said all conditions relating to the new block were complied with except that a 40ft yard to the south and east was not met. The hearing will continue today.