Recommendation on street kept secret

Press, 12 July 1985, Page 5

Recommendation on street kept secret

A recommendation on the proposed alignment of Madras Street through its intersection with Hereford Street has been made to the Minister of Works and Development, Mr Colman, by his Ministry’s Director of Reading, Mr Ron Fisher, but is being kept under wraps until the Planning Tribunal hearing on Monday. Mr Fisher was in Christchurch earlier this week for talks with the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury United Council, and the Ministry of Works. He' said from Wellington yesterday that he had made his re-

commendation to the Minister, but declined to say what it was. The Minister was similarly reluctant, telling “The Press” that no comment would be made before the Planning Tribunal hearing begins.

The tribunal will hear outstanding matters in the Christchurch City Council’s District Scheme, so that the scheme may become operative. This includes reading appeals. The Christchurch City Council voted last week against taking part of Latimer Square for roadway, needed for the proposed Madras Street-Barbadoes

Street one-way pair. The council’s decision was something of a surprise, as the recommendation to the meeting had been that the council support an amendment to the Reserves Empowering Act to enable the designation, should the Planning Tribunal confirm the Minister’s designation.

About 30 commercial, church, and residential properties would lose part of their frontages, and another 25 buildings would have to be demolished if the designation went ahead. Residents have long opposed the widening of the two streets.