Merivale group to draw own district plan

Press, 24 April 1986, Page 5

Merivale group to draw own district plan

The Merivale Precinct Society, which led calls for rates reform last year, is now seeking a greater say in town planning. The society’s chairman, Mr Kim Pettengell, has announced its intention to draw up an environmental plan for Merivale, with a view to having it adopted in place of the Christchurch City Council’s District Scheme. Mr Pettengell said that unless residents spoke out, Papanui Road could have “motels from one end to the other and well into

the side roads as well. “Merivale will not be Merivale. It will be high--rise hotels, with one or two trees,” he said. The society’s committee had already identified several topics, such as the preservation of trees and old buildings, he said. “We now need the views of the residents.” Mr Pettengell told the society's annual meeting last evening that the environmental plan would be the top priority for this year. He hoped that a

draft plan would be ready by September or October, when it would be put to the public for approval, then submitted to the City Council. The society is also looking for direct representation by putting up its own candidate for the October council election. Members resolved last evening to call for nominations of persons willing to stand as independent candidates in the city’s West Ward, and who would support the aims of the society if elected.