Council says no to access bridge

Press, 1 April 1980, Page 6

Council says no to access bridge

A special meeting of the Waimairi County Council jerupted last evening when Cr I. ‘G. Clark decided to change his vote after voting against, an application to build abridge over the Wairarapa . Aftera tense two-hour discussion 'the council decided, six votes to four, against a motion? to allow Mr R. R. Currie; to build a bridge across the stream, in spite of legal advice to the contrary. -

In moving that the council grant Mr Currie’s application the chairman (Mr D. B. Rich) said that legal advice indicatedzthat the council did not have the legal , authority to refiise the application. Cr Hazel Tait, asked that her vbte in favour, ofthe proposal be recorded -anda division?- was called for, Cr Clark .'then decided? to vote in favoiir of the motion. ;

Criesfof “farce” came from Cr E. Wj- Bonisch as Mr. Rich adjourned the meeting to consider Cr Clark’s action.

Declaring the motion lost — the original vote stood — Mr Rich said that he felt that the matter was still not resolved. The council? had been put in a ridculous situation'. However, no councillor took up his invitation to

put the-matter to the vote again, ' Mr Currie , and • Bradnor Road residents, met the council last evening to discuss the bridge proposal. Mr Currie, a property developer, said that he .wanted to, build a house that had been designed many years ago. on the 64-perch property. Access was available from but?” access to the garage would only be possible if a bridge was built across the stream and a road built through “Bradnor Reserve” at the end of the road. On the,, council’s district scheme a paper road is shown through die area. Mr Currie’s lawyers had told him that he was legally entitled to access as his property/frontage met a county frontage which was a “legal road” ( It would be impossible' to change the design of the house. If his application was rejected Mr Currie said that he would consider subdividing the property and, building eight units oh each, section. This would mean a full-size road- off Bradnor Road. Bradnor Road -- residents who object to Mr Currie’s proposal regard the area at the end of the road as a . reserve or park although it has

hot been officially designated as such by the council.

Mr P. J. Cordner, speaking for the residents, said that he personally . objected to the proposal as it would cut off some of his frontage. The “reserve” was of great benefit to the public; children played there and the older people enjoyed the tranquility of the area. “The area will be damaged beyond repair .if the road goes in,” he said.' Although he conceded that the area was legally a road, Mr Cordner said that: the council had previously indicated that it would refuse any applications for a road through the area. -He denied ever agreeing to the proposal. “Mr Currie may have misconstrued politeness for acceptance,” he said. Anbthr resident, Mr A.- C. Penny, called on the council to officially designate the area a reserve.

The county’s solicitor (Mr J. E. Ryan) said that if the council* refused permission it would be preventing a property owner from exercising lawful access to the-road.

Mr Currie said after the meeting that he had had a fair and good hearing from the council, although the matter had 1 been carried a little further than necessary. He would consider, taking the matter to the Town and Country Planning Tribunal, but it had taken him six months and a considerable amount of money to get this far. •

. Cr Clark said after the meeting that, he would. not bringthe matter up -again before the council. He said he had been under the impression that he could change his vote during a division.