Amusement centre prospect opposed

Press, 17 June 1982, Page 6

Amusement centre prospect opposed

Rumours that an amusement centre will be established at the corner of Victoria Street and Salisbury Street have drawn a hostile reaction from businessmen in the area.

It is widely thought that T. Cocks and " Sons furniture shop, which was sold in April, has been bought by Taito (N.Z.). Ltd. the company which owns the Dog House, an amusement, and fast-food centre in Cathedral Square. The property was formerly owned by McKenzie and Willis. Ltd. A director of the company. Mr J. H. Willis, said yesterday that it had been sold unconditionally and that the sale had been negotiated through solicitors. Mr Willis said he believed that the buyer was Taito

(N.Z.) but he could not confirm it.-

Efforts to reach the general manager of Taito. Mr G. J. Nash, yesterday were unsuccessful". The owner of a used-car yard opposite the furniture shop, Mr J. R. Pirie, said he opposed an amusement centre in the area.

“It will cause a decline in the value of property and business and there w'ill be rubbish all over the place," he said. The Victoria Takeaways 'proprietor. Mrs M. Waltho, said that she was "apprehensive" about the idea.

"I am against it because of the people who usually frequent those places. They tend to attract a very rough element.”

However, a slot machine operator with machines posted two blocks along Vic-

toria Street towards the citycentre, Mr C. J. Chaston. was unperturbed by the possibility of a" competitor nearby.

“I will tell you after it has opened ” he said. An elderly woman living nearby said that she was not interested in the possible effects on the area. .

"If they are going to vandalise, they are going to vandalise,” she said. A Victoria Street businessman. Mr V. E. Hansen, said: “We cannot stop it because it is passed by law but a lot of us are concerned about the element that may come here."

A spokesman for the Christchurch City Council said that it would not block the amusement centre. The site was zoned commercial and such an enterprise was therefore an appropriate use.