Expressway

Press, 29 March 1980, Page 14

Expressway

Sir, — Your editorial (March 28) highlights for me the onesidedness of this argument and the gross unfairness of the rules of the game. Of course this traffic plan must be properly subject to attack on the grounds of cost, need, general property disturbance and environment. It must be. it can be, it will be. But I ask you, who on earth has the energy, time, knowledge and finance necessary to make such a proper attack which has to _be_ pitted against such institutions as the City Council and Regional Planning Authority which hava ths resources already.

Would the City Council or someone lend its “experts” to the detractors or at least provide the finance to buy the energy, time and knowledge that is essential to making a proper attack on the proposal? — Yours, etc.,

HOWARD RANDAL. March 28, 1980.

Sir, — A magnificent: expressway along the Avon with views of Englefield, etc., can surely be built, but what for — to race traffic into town? The early settlers chose the elevated north facing banks. of the Avon, above flood level, with natural outlook to river, flax, toi-toi, and flag iris to remind them of home. Now the voice of Avonside residents cannot be heard above the traffic. Who wants beautifully manicured lawns? Let us put back the clock, close Avonside Drive between Fitzgerald Avenue and Stanmore Road to all but pedestrians, cycles, and manpowered rivercraft, then we could rival the new Law Courts footpath. It is time to do a comprehensive landscape assessment of Christchurch, covering trees, open space, water, and buildings, so that traffic engineers have something on which to base their reading network.- At present they are trying to make the best of what is left of the Master Transport Plan, — Yours, etc..

JANET B. MOSS. March 28, 1980.