Tower developers answer questions

Press, 24 February 1987, Page 7

Tower developers answer questions

By

DIANA HALES

Representatives of the tourist industry were given a chance yesterday to question the developers of the proposed tower in Victoria Square.

Mr Jamie Tulloch, a director and spokesman for Tourist Towers, Ltd, developer of the tower project, presented a detailed outline of the project to the'small gathering in the Vacation Inn.

Questions covering the shadow factor of the tower, parking overloads, charges for the amenities, exterior floodlighting, employment opportunities and public acceptance of the project were all expressed. Mr Barry Dacombe, a representative of Warren and Mahoney, designers

of the tower, said that the shadow cast by the 7mwide shaft and the top standard of the tower would be minimal.

Pressures on parking were well-known in Christchurch, but Mr Peter McCombs, a researcher for the Well-ington-based Traffic Design Group, said research showed that they could expect an average of 10 extra cars and one coach every hour. • Although Tourist Towers, Ltd, would not create any parking areas, it believed existing parking coupled with the council’s plans for further parking would be sufficient, he said. Fears that local people would not be able to afford the prices charged

by such a tourist venture were mentioned by Mrs Connie Wood, deputy chairwoman of the Historic Places Trust in Christchurch. She said that too often these schemes, designed to bring in the tourist dollars, were under-used by local people because they could not afford the prices.

Mr Tulloch said the revolving restaurant would serve medium to highpriced fare but that was because he imagined the turnover would be slow.

Mr John Wood, of the Historic Places Trust, said although it was an exciting concept and a beautiful building, he did not think it should be erected in Victoria Square.