Homes win in decision on road widening

Press, 17 November 1981, Page 1

Homes win in decision on road widening

Long-standing plans to widen Aidwins Road on both sides where it passes Linwood High School were upheld by the Christchurch City Council last evening.

In a decision on a district scheme review hearing the council rejected a controversial option that would have taken all the widening land from residential properties on the east side of the street.

The Education Department had fought the plan to widen both sides of Aidwins Road since it would have meant the loss of some landscaped land in front of the high school.

Residents had opposed the other option because it would have meant the demolition of some houses.

An amendment by Cr A. J. Graham that the scheme be reheard by the full council was lost. He said that many questions had not been answered satisfactorily. Cr H. A. Clark, seconding the amendment, said that he could not justify moving the road closer and closer to the school. Sir Terence McCombs said that if councillors thought the decision was wrong they could inform Linwood High

School its rights of appeal. The costs of another hearing would have to be paid for by the school, however.

Sections of street at the Linwood Avenue and Ferry Road ends of Aidwins Road have already been widened. The hearing committee suggested that the Education Department could arrange for a special study on ways to reduce noise in classrooms from the future widened street.

Trees along the present school frontage could also be taken out during the autumn and replanted in other parts of the school grounds, or planted in the median strip just outside the school.

Councillors said that they were aware that widening would have some bad effects on property no matter where it was done. But a designation which had stood for 12

years should not be removed from some properties and imposed on others "unless there is a very substantial change in circumstances," the decision said.

The widening option would have required the acquisition of more land from five properties, and houses would have been demolished on two of them.

Over all, the rejected option would have required demolition of eight houses, five of them already owned by the council. Purchase of properties required for the widening — as shown in the 1972 district scheme — started in the early 19705, and only six severances are yet to be acquired to complete property requirements under that scheme’s proposals. One is the severance from Linwood High School. The council had a hearing to compare the widening options after a district scheme review designation of the widening was mistakenly left off a planning map. In the street design, the council will pay special attention to cycle traffic, pedestrian crossings and vehicle access for-the school.