Avenue trees for debate

Press, 6 August 1987, Page 5

Avenue trees for debate

The Christchurch City Council will have to deal with conflicting recommendations on trees in Fitzgerald Avenue when it meets later this month. Its works and traffic committee yesterday recommended that the council confirm its decision to remove five oak trees in the avenue’s median to make way for right-turning lanes. Its parks and recreation committee has asked it to reconsider that decision and switch to an interim plan which would allow the trees to stay until the end 'of their practical life.

Councillors Ron Wright and David Close spoke of the need to provide as safe a road as possible. They supported the council’s earlier decision to

bypass the suggested Interim plan and complete the traffic measures immediately.

Councillor Alex Clark, who led Tuesday’s parks and recreation committee move to keep the trees, lamented the “narrow thinking” that would not allow healthy trees to be retained.

The interim option was viable and would provide sufficient room for turning, he said. Councillor Wright said the success of traffic measures further along the avenue showed the full measures should also be adopted in the block in question, between Cashel Street and Hereford Street. The two recommendations will go to the council meeting on August 17.