Civic Trust blames buck-passing*

Press, 1 November 1979, Page 8

Civic Trust blames buck-passing*

Bu c k-passing between Government departments is delaying the recycling ot old buildings in Christchurch. according to members of the Christchurch Civic Trust. Mr G. L. Robertson, vicechairman of the trust, has told members at the annual meeting that the decision on the future of the old Teachers’ College building in Peterborough Street was “being pushed from Gov--1 ernment department to Govj ernment department, as happened with the Normal School in 1970,” and that the i building was deteriorating in i the meantime. j Mr Robertson said that the Arts Centre was an | example of what could be; done to recycle buildings. “The developers are prepared to move in and do things with old buildings but the Government is holding

them back.” In March this year, the trust submitted a plan for the use of the Normal School in Cramner Square to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, at his request. The plan for the former school, which is one of Christchurch’s oldest stone buildings, included a tavern-res-taurant, shops, and apartments. The trust still awaits a reply to its report from the commissioner. “I pass that building every day,” said a trust member, Mr D. J. Hewitt. “The way it has been neglected by successive Governments is an absolute scandal.

“The Teachers’ College has also been abandoned; it will go the same way as the Normal School unless pressure is brought to bear on those in charge of it,” Mr Hewitt said. Bill deplored The trust has deplored the haste witn which the National Development Bill has been put before Parliament 'and will oend a nrotest to

1 the Prime Minister (Mr Mu s doon). It will also ask that : the bill be .delayed for co: . sideration over the summe.- - recess. ■ Publicity Some of the dozen mem bers at last evening’s meeting said they thought the i trust was not criticising and commenting enough on env ronmental changes in Christchurch and was lacking in its publicity, both in the news media and in its fail ;! ure to let its subscribers know what was going on. The chairman (Mr I. G. B. Wilson) said that because of t the economy there had not i been much recent develHopment in Christchurch, "so • i there is less for the trust ■ to do.” ) ' Annual awards

The Trust has given its annual awards for improvement of the city environment to the Arts Centre Trust Board and the Christchurch City Council. The Arts Centre board receives its award "for the ! sympathetic refurbishing” of the old university buildings in Worcester Street. I “The early work of Mountfort and Seager has been successfully comiplemented by the restrained iuse of colour, graphics, and planting to form a unified development which must be an asset to Christchurch for generations to come,” said the citation. The Christchurch City

Council receives its award for the realignment and widening of Innes Road, east of Papanui Road. “A development that so easily could have been an environmental disaster has become a definite improvement to the area with the careful retention of the existing planting and the pleasant treatment of the footpath and fencing. An example for all local authorities." The citations will be I framed and presented at a > fusion.