Tribunal to consider square proposal

Press, 31 May 1985, Page 5

Tribunal to consider square proposal

Any future Planning Tribunal decision on Latimer Square should be adopted by the Christchurch City Council, said its townplanning committee yesterday. That would include the Ministry of Works and Development’s plan to trim the south-eastern corner of Latimer Square to allow an easier flow for three lanes of traffic.

Some councillors doubted whether the council itself should promote an amendment to the Reserves Empowering Act to allow part of the corner and several trees to be taken. They said the Ministry of Works and Development, which made the designation,

should have to seek the legislation. The Latimer Square proposal will be one of several considered by the Planning Tribunal in July. Tribunal members will also hear objections to the Ministry’s plans to widen the one-way Madras Street and Barbadoes Street to three lanes, with wider intersections at some crossings.

The planning committee said that the tribunal’s decisions on all the issues should be adopted Of Latimer Square, councillors said that a proposal to close all or part of the street along the west side of the square should be considered again. That would create

more reserve space on the other side of the square from what might be lost at the south-eastern corner. “The response from the community clearly indicates they desire an open space there,” Cr Matthew Glubb said of Latimer Square. Creation of such a space should be done no matter what the Planning Tribunal decided. “We must be seen to be

protecting Latimer Square," said Cr Alex Clark. “It does no pain to traffic having to slow down there. It is a nice, tranquil area and traffic should be moderately slow-moving in that area.” Cr Clark doubted whether the west side of Latimer Square could be closed be-

cause of the "active buildings along there."

Councillors said that a two-lane Avonside Drive with intersection improvements should be approved in principle, along with a three-lane Kilmore Street from Fitzgerald Avenue to Barbadoes Street.

There could be problems with even a two-lane Avonside Drive in deciding whether to retain the riverside trees or encroach on residential properties on the south side of the street. Up to two metres would have to come off some properties if the trees were retained. Two houses would be taken in intersection improvements.