City heritage plan

Press, 8 October 1987, Page 4

City heritage plan

GLEN PERKINSON

Christchurch's heritage and its historic places are at the '"point of no return,” say concerned preservationists. Mr Peter Beaven, an architect and preservationist, said last evening that the city had to decide once and for all what It would do to protect its old buildings. An emergency meeting of interested parties had yesterday concluded that study teams should investigate certain areas of the city in need of protection and draft a plan for their protection.

The removal after its sale to developers, of parts of the synagogue in Gloucester Street, by the Christchurch Hebrew community had prompted the meeting.

The group which included architects, landscape architects, Civic Trust, and the Historic Places Trust representatives and the Christchurch City Council’s planning department, . believes it can come up with incentives to ensure parts of the city are protected from demolition. J. He emphasised that developers would not .be Interfered with, but be offered “practical incentives to protect or enhance sites.” Developers were not represented at the meeting. . Each investigating team will scrutinise "sensitive” areas and draft a plan "that will assist in maintaining the character of the city.” Each group member will draft a plan from their'point of view.

Mr Beaven believes the City Council would take note of comments because it, can be assisted under the Town Planning Act by Interest groups. The groups* findings will be open to public submissions. Some of the areas for scrutiny are the banks of the Avon River, sections of Cathedral Square, western areas of the city, and Tuam and Lichfield streets. Within four weeks a definite direction would be evident, Mr Beaven ■said. The Vittoria Square tower proposal had made many residents aware of Christchurch’s vulnerability. "I believe it is at the point of no return and its people must decide what kind of city they want”