M’way houses review soon

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34103, 16 March 1976, Page 18

M’way houses review soon

The Christchurch City Council will review the motorway designation on city properties as a result of a call to lift the designation.

At a meeting of the council yesterday, Cr B. J. Britten said that a land-purchase loan of $500,000 would be excluded from the council’s loan issue because of the re-

cent Government freeze on local body finance.

He said that this would cause much hardship for a lot of people because the council would not be in a position to buy properties designated for motorway use. “If the money is not available, there is a good cause for lifting this designation.” said Cr Britten. “We are stalling. It is likely that these motorways might never be built, and it is highly unlikely that we’ll see them in our lifetime.”

Cr Britten said that, if the designation was lifted, affected property owners would be able to make full use of their properties. The Mayor (Mr Hay) said that if there were cases of hardship, particularly in the area of the proposed southern motorway, he was sure the works committee would look at them. Sir Robert Macfarlane said that it was time the council made a decision on the issue.

The council adopted his motion that the designation be reviewed by the town planning committee. The council also decided to draw the attention of the Government to the position.