United Council may resist C.C.C. plan

Press, 9 February 1982, Page 6

United Council may resist C.C.C. plan

A Christchurch City Council plan to scrap controversial roadworks designations—such as the St Albans expressway corridor—may be opposed by the Canterbury United Council.

“They have simply removed a politically difficult situation from their plate and hoped it would go away,” Cr D. B. Rich, the regional planning committee chairman, said of the city planning decisions. “And they won’t go away.” If the United Council paid more attention to public opinion in one part of the region than to good regional planning, “then we might as well pack up our tents and go away,” he said. Cr Rex Lester said he was surprised by that comment, since elected officials were seen as people with the ability to judge public opinion and act accordingly. The regional planning

director, Mr G. C. Miller, said the regional aim was to maintain a satisfactory level of traffic service on the road ' network. “How that is done is not our concern,” he said. “But the City Council has removed certain alternatives and not replaced them.” He said that appeals would seek assurances that some new traffic solutions would take the place of those being discarded. “These matters of regional significance need to go before the Planning Tribunal,” said Cr Rich. “The people have shown a great disapproval of proposals to realign parts of the region,” said Cr Lester. The committee has recommended that the United Council appeal against City Council decisions on the Avonside/Woodham Expressway designation, the realignment of Cranmer Square and

the commercial zoning of 1 shops in the vicinity of district shopping centres. Action has also been recommended against Ministry of Works and Development road works designations by asking the Government to retain its designations on properties within the city and next to State Highway 1, relating to the St Albans corridor and central city road widening. • If the Government agreed with the City Coucil, that decision whould be appealed by the United Council, the committee said.