Council starts buying Hoon Hay properties

Press, 16 April 1982, Page 6

Council starts buying Hoon Hay properties

The Christchurch Citv Council has started buying properties along the line of a Hoon Hay Road deviation. The deviation will take the main street to the south-west side of the commercial zone opposite Spreydon School. Hoon Hay Road will then meet Halswell Road at the intersection with Curletts Road, providing a more direct link between that part of Christchurch and the southern motorway. Although no Citv Council money has been budgeted yet to pay for the deviation project, the work has been designated in the reviewed district scheme. The deviation will allow

the Hoon Hay shopping centre to be redeveloped across the present street. Landscaping and a cul-de-sac treatment of the present street are also part of a proposed plan. The council's traffic engineer. Mr M. L. Gadd. told the works and traffic committee this week that the deviation was “a medium to long-term project." New Regent Street Mr Gadd said that a "reasonable agreement" had been reached with shopowners in New Regent Street about a plan to reduce traffic congestion in the block. The street could be nar-

rowed at ’ both ends, with some tree planting. There could 'also be a kerb realignment with planting at midblock. Traffic could be restricted to a one-way flow, with fewer parking" spaces provided. Mr Gadd said that the cost of making New Regent Street a pedestrian mall would be high, and the loss of access and parking would be “fairly serious to one or two of the businesses." There is no money on estimates for the work, but Mr Gadd said the construction cost could be under $lO,OOO-