Assurances sought on Hagley plan

Press, 19 July 1983, Page 1

Assurances sought on Hagley plan

Staff and visitor parking problems at Christchurch Hospital must be overcome if any Hagley Park land exchange goes ahead, the City Council said last evening.

Those problems must be tackled both during hospital construction and after the redevelopment project was completed. Other assurances over the exchange proposal made last week by the Minister of Health, Mr Malcolm, were sought. Significant hospital construction cost savings must be made because of the exchange, said councillors. No more than the 340 sq m already proposed must be exchanged. An equivalent or greater area must be added to Hagley Park.

Because the Hagley Avenue “manse site” would not be used for a pathology building under the proposal compromise, it has been suggested that the site could be one area for expanded public parking. “The public has taken up arms over this vexed question for many years,” said Cr Mollie Clark. “Few hospitals in the world would have such poor parking provisions.”

Cr Rex Lester said that a recommendation proposed by the Mayor, Sir Hamish Hay, was not positive enough. There should be a clear indication of council support for the exchange proposal. The City Council decided to co-operate with Mr Malcolm’s request if the assurances were received.

“If we agree to the principle that there could be a

trade-off, a greater area could become available for the people of Christchurch,” said Sir Hamish.

About 30 hospital cars were now parked quite beyond the boundary, he said, and some land — including two tennis courts — could revert to garden. Parking needs had been emphasised to Mr Malcolm in no uncertain way, said Sir Hamish. The exchange proposal was a good opportunity to emphasise the interests of hospital users.

Cr Lester said that the council was willing to assist Mr Malcolm in any way possible. The exchange proposal “appears on the surface to be a sensible compromise,” said Cr D. J. Rowlands.

Cr C. E. Manning said that the council needed to know if the $lO million construction savings was actually there. “They seem a little vague at the moment,” he said. There could still be delays because of necessary legal procedures surrounding the exchange.

Cr Geoff Stone said that construction work could proceed on the proposed on-cology-pathology building site — away from the exchange area — while such procedures were being followed. Cr Lester said that the total hospital building programme must include a positive solution to the staff and visitor car-parking problem. Cr Rowlands said that it was important for Mr Malcolm to assure the council that parking needs would be met 10 to 15 years ahead.