Expressway

Press, 14 August 1984, Page 20

Expressway

Sir,—We have received a notice in our letter box saying the Avonside Drive - Woodham Road expressway could still be built. The folly of such a plan should be evident to all concerned. The massive cost to the ratepayer to bring more noise, pollution, and congestion to the inner city, coupled with desecration of one of the finest stretches of the Avon River makes nonsense of plans made when the motor car was favoured over people. Where does the present City Council stand on this matter? Yours, etc., ROBERT WAGONER. July 29, 1984. [Mr J. H. Gray, the General Manager and Town Clerk of Christchurch, replies: “I am not aware of any notices which have been circulated concerning the Avonside Drive-Woodham Road expressway. Certainly there has been no official communication to residents from the City Council. At the last review of the district planning scheme, all designations for roadworks were uplifted from Woodham Road. Woodham Road, therefore, enjoys as much protection from being widened for traffic reasons as any other city street not currently affected by a road widening designation. In the case of Avonside Drive, the previous expressway 1 designation was removed and a building line substituted. This is still the subject of town planning appeals. The Canterbury United Council is reviewing the transportation section of its regional scheme and I understand this will be completed later this year. At that time the City Council will have to consider any implications which may arise in respect of its own district planning scheme, but any changes contemplated in the status of Woodham Road or Avonside Drive could only be as a result of public notification with consequent opportunities for any objections to be heard by the City Council and, if necessary, the Planning Tribunal.”]