Chambers to go on market again

Press, 31 October 1981, Page 6

Chambers to go on market again

Mr C. J. Berryman has decided to let his option lapse on the old civic chambers in Manchester Street. The option to buy the chambers runs out today. Mr Berryman had planned to make the old building into an entertainment centre incorporating a dance floor and cabaret, a restaurant and a club bar. But an interim decision by the Liquor Licensing Control Commission said that the ground floor of the proposed centre would be more like a dance hall than a cabaret and could not be called “entertainment” under the requirements of the licence. Mr Berryman has said he would not change his plans for the centre because it was not profitable to have a cabaret every evening. He has since made further submissions to the commission, and has been told it was likely to be “some time” before he received a reply. A spokesman for the commission said yesterday that Mr Berryman’s second application was “under consideration,” but that it was impossible to say when a decision would be made.

Mr Berryman said that if the licence came through, he would consider continuing with his plans for the old civic chambers, providing the building was still available.

“I am disappointed that I am unable to go ahead with my plans, because I am determined we should have a nightclub in Christchurch,” he said.

Mr K. R. McNeil, director of housing and property for the Christchurch City Coun-

cil, said yesterday that the chambers would go back on the market. “Knowing that this .situation was likely to arise, we have, in fact, been talking to others interested in the property for the last two or three weeks," said Mr McNeil. “There has been some interest shown by several par-

ties, and we certainly feel much more optimistic'about it than we did 12 months ago. We will be going all out to sell the property now," he said. "I still believe the site has tremendous potential, being so close to Cathedral Squared and in an area where there is bound to be rejuvenation and development," . said Mr McNeil.