Groups against more traffic

Press, 28 May 1984, Page 9

Groups against more traffic

Inner-city Christchurch neighbourhood groups are uniting in their fight against proposals to increase the traffic flow in the inner city. Representatives from various inner-city neighbourhood groups met yesterday to discuss the effects of the proposed city traffic plans on residential areas. A spokesman, Mr W. R. Sykes, said that the deadline for the submissions against the proposed changes was July. Instead of planning for an increased flow of traffic within the city, local bodies should be reducing it and enhancing the inner city as a place to live, said Mr Sykes. Reduction could be

achieved by placing greater emphasis on the public transport system, by-passes and encouraging cyclists, he said. “There is a reviving sense of community in the inner city which along with its unique cultural, architectural and landscape values, can only be undermined by further increases in motor traffic.” The joint groups would co-ordinate to deliver leaflets on the traffic issue to all residents in the inner city, as well as to write to the Canterbury United Council, said Mr Sykes. Individual groups were also writing to their own councils against particular traffic changes in their area, he said.