District scheme

Press, 26 March 1980, Page 16

District scheme

Sir, — I wish to thank Peter Skellerup through your columns for making us aware of the imminent danger to the trees of Cranmer and Latimer Squares from road realignment projects, and for telling us what to do to try to save them. I also believe, as evidently Mr Skellerup does, that the present system of notification of such projects is quite inadequate. Also, that objection has to be lodged on the correct form obtainable only from the Christchurch City Council seems to make objection as difficult as possible. — Yours, etc., KIT POWELL. March 25, 1980. Sir, — Appeals against any part of the district scheme close on March 31. We should be giving intense consideration to the proposals for Cranmer and Latimer Squares. To my mind these two great squares should be preserved inviolable for our heirs. It is their intrinsic value as squares that is so important. For to divide means one will never again be whole. Expediency often destroys.. In the older, wiser world, with far greater traffic problems than ours, men and women gladly drive around green squares and their historic buildings, etc, in order to retain such essentials. Many have become symbols of the peoples’ belief in the true value of their inheritance. I do recognise that men of power and progress cannot allow the past to swamp the future. But in the case of the squares I feel that man’s imagination and effort could devise more creatively. The planners have an awesome power. — Yours, etc., P. J. M. AYTON. March 24, 1980.