Petrol station site opposed

Press, 27 May 1978, Page 5

Petrol station site opposed

Neighbours of a proposed petrol station in Lincoln Road, near the Addington Raceway and the new southern motorway overbridge, have objected strongly at a Christchurch City Council planning hearing. They said it was the wrong location for a B.P. (New Zealand), Ltd, facility. There were already enough petrol stations in the area. A long list of protestors came before the hearing panel. There was even an objection from the District Commissioner of Works; whose department makes rare appearances at council hearings; and the Ministry supported objections by the Canterbury 7 Regional Planning Authority. The proposed petrol station would be located in a Residential 1 neighbourhood at the corner of Lincoln Road and Lindores Street. It would be the relocation of a B.P. station near the junction of Lincoln Road and Wise Street.

Council policy encourages .service stations to be in commercial zones. Only some existing stations are recognised in the district scheme as serving neighbourhood needs while being in residential zones.

By zoning land in the area residential, “the council is clearly wishing to encourage residential development in the Addington area, despite pressures from the southern motorway corridor,” said Mr A. J. Ralph, an assistant town planner. More than 20 houses with useful economic lives were in the neighbourhood. A spokesman for 8.P., Mr B. R. Cameron, said the residential site was considered the best on that side of Lincoln Road to replace a station that had become too small. The raised overbridge already detracted from neighbourhood amenities, and the petrol station would not add to that detraction. A decision was reserved.