Hearing on kindergarten

Press, 27 November 1980, Page 7

Hearing on kindergarten

Arguments for and; against the establishment of a kindergarten in the Pinehurst Crescent reserve, Avonhead, were heard yesterday by a sub-committee of the Waimairi County ■ Council. Only three people, all of them living near the reserve, objected to the proposal. Mr and Mrs H. K. Lyes, of 15 Pinehurst Crescent, • said that the bend on which the reserve was situated was already dangerous. When cars parked on both sides of the street it was reduced to one lane. The kindergarten would attract extra traffic j which would create dangerous conditions for chil-■ dren. ' Mr D. J. Moth, of 11 Pinehurst Crescent, said that; although he did not object'

;to a kindergarten at the un-u developed end of the re-? serve, he was concerned that? car parking and a proposed ? scout den for the future? would mean that the play-b ■ground now on the reserve? for children would have to j go. He was also concerned 1 that the developments would :mean that the area would? no longer be a reserve. j; For the Christchurch Free! Kindergarten Association,? Mr J. H. M. Dawson said; that the traffic problems! would not be any worse? than anywhere else where? people gathered. ? j Sharing kindergarten faci-. lities with other groups,? ■such as scouts, would not’ work because kindergarten ■equipment was specialised. ; I Using the site for a kinder•garten wculd be best for the !

; reserve and the community. INo other kindergarten was 'nearby and when houses 'were built in Geraldo Place, ; the area required for a kindergarten would become a '“dead corner.” j Mr R. D. Marwick, a planning assistant for the 'council, said that the proposed kindergarten should be i allowed so long as it was I built at least three metres jfrom any boundaries, the ;area was landscaped, parking and access plans were •submitted, and the use of !the site was confined to that ,'of a kindergarten. ■ Mr P. L. Atkinson, a traffic engineer, said that, he had no objection to the proposal if parking and access were provided. The sub-committee reserved its decision.