Labour Dept may move in

Press, 16 June 1982, Page 10

Labour Dept may move in

*<An unemployment bureau nfn by the Labour Departrji’ent/may take over two omptv shops in . the State Insurance office in Division Street, Riccarton. i The Riccarton Borough Council town planning committee has recommended that the office be an app'roved use of the space, for ttyo years.

. Councillors were reluctant to’allow unqualified approval for the project, becaue the council had wanted retail space, in the building when the .plans were ' approved. Tfijh|hops would be attrac-tjvej-if the building's surrounds were developed by they said.

meeting had been told shops had been enjptj. since the insurance company had moved into the building. There had been little interest from retailers.

The shops could be used as office space., provided that the decision could be reviewed if retail development prceeded in the area, said the committee.

Food bar Six people who petitioned about the noise coming from a food bar in Riccarton Road would have to provide evidence before the council would take action, the committee decided. Cr A. B. Harman said that there might be more to the complaints than met the eye. The council should not intervene unless there were strong grounds for complaint. The owner of the food bar. Mr H. Smith, told the meeting that the shop was open until 4 a.m.. at the week-end. He tried to prevent rubbish and noise, he said.