Heavy vehicles ‘plague’ residents, council told

Press, 4 October 1984, Page 9

Heavy vehicles ‘plague’ residents, council told

Sleepless residents were tired of the heavy vehicles that rumbled along their streets at all hours of the day, a Linwood resident told Christchurch City councillors yesterday. Ms Brenda Coster said heavy vehicles plagued the streets in residential areas shattering the peace and quiet. Undulating terrain on some streets, notably Hereford Street, and pot holes increased the noise made by the vehicles, she said.

Fourteen residents presented a petition to the August meeting of the council’s works and traffic committee calling for the use of Hereford Street by demolition trucks carrying debris to stop. The petition asked for the imposition of conditions on contractors to ensure that loads did not fall or spill and that the noise pollution regulations were enforced. The residents also asked for a system in which no

single route had to bear the entire heavy traffic load, thus giving residents some relief.

Ms Coster said that since August, Laing Construction, March Construction, and Metropolitan Refuse trucks had travelled along Hereford Street about every 15 minutes on the way to the Bexley landfill. Landfill could be taken at Bexley for another 10 to 12 years. “How tolerant do you think we are?” Ms Coster said. Mr Allen Boyce, also of Hereford Street, asked the council to get together with the Government on traffic levies. Contractors used residential streets because they provided the shortest routes and that meant less in road tax had to be paid. Cr Rex Arbuckle said there was no reason why the Metro Refuse trucks were using Hereford Street. The committee decided to write to the Metro Refuse

manager asking him to instruct drivers not to use the street, where possible. Cr David Close recommended the improvement of streets rather than prohibition of use on heavy vehicles. It was the poor state of some road surfaces that heightened vibration and noise, he said.

Cr Matthew Glubb said the council had attempted to introduce a heavy traffic flow on some city streets to allow services to industry without disturbing residents, but had been frustrated by some councillors. The committee will also ask contractors to consider the noise and disturbance their trucks can cause. Subways Two subways under Harper Avenue and Deans Avenue will be considered for the 1985-86 council budget. The committee yesterday approved for consideration a programme including a cycleway under Harper Avenue ($250,000), Avon River path east of Kerrs Reach ($10,000), Mary Dixon and Porritt Parks, Centennial Park ($8000), Deans Avenue riverside path ($20,000), cycle stands ($12,000), off-street mainten-

ance ($3000), and miscellaneous works ($3000). The projects are urban transport projects proposed for the next three years and are eligible for urban transport subsidies.

A sub-committee has been set up to discuss the widening of Deans Avenue between Fendalton Road and Riccarton Road with the Riccarton Borough Council. The sub-committee will also discuss the appropriateness of the Deans Avenue underpass.

Detailed design of the two underpasses will be made in conjunction with the Riccarton Borough Council and the Canterbury United Council. Some councillors expressed doubts about the safety of subways and council staff were asked to consider all aspects in the subway designs.

Merivale precinct

A traffic plan for the Merivale area has been shelved until December when the Merivale Precinct Society will submit comments on it.

The plan for the area — bounded by Papanui Road, Rossall Street, Heaton Street, and Carlton Mill Road — includes limited road widening, footpath construction, and road improve-

The chairman of the society, Mr Kim Pettengell, said the society had not had a chance to consider the plan in depth. It would be able to do so by the committee’s December meeting.

West Ward councillors will meet their counterparts for the Fendalton riding of Waimairi District Council to discuss the Holmwood Road, Merivale Lane, Rossall Street intersection. Horse trips An application by Mr John Lyon to run horse-and-carriage rides using three pick-up points — outside the Canterbury Museum, the car-park adjacent to the Botanic Gardens, and outside the Canterbury Information Centre in Worcester Street — was approved by the committee. The parks and recreation committee previously declined a request by Mr Lyon to run his rides in the Botanic Gardens.

Mr Lyon’s application for his rides in city streets was granted on condition that any manure be removed, the horse be fed by nosebag to prevent litter, no advertising signs be erected without approval, and there be no encroachment on grassed areas.