Old Stone House centre approved

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33654, 2 October 1974, Page 11

Old Stone House centre approved

An application for a specified departure to permit the Old Stone House in Cashmere to be used as a community centre has been granted after a hearing by the Heathcote County Council planning committee.

The application was made by the Old Stone House Trust and Cracroft Community Centre Incorporated. It was granted subject to certain conditions. They are that no overnight accommodation be provided, that there be a two-year period for the applicants to take up consent, that the applicants make submissions about relinquishing the right of way from Holmcroft Court to prevent residents there being disturbed, and that the applicants make further submissions on parking. Considerable attention at the hearing was given to the question of providing adequate parking for the centre. The chairman of the committee (Cr J. N. McKenzie) said the committee was "most unhappy” about the matter and that alternatives must be discussed. There were four objectors to the application. Three were private citizens living in the area, and the fourth was a real estate firm. All cited the lack of parking space and the increased traffic among their objections. Other reasons were the disturbance the centre equid cause in an otherwise quiet residential area, the vandalism it might attract, the litter that might be left,

and the traffic hazard to young children. The applicants, represented by Mr R. G. McElrea, called six witnesses.