Cemeteries for tidy?

Press, 2 December 1987, Page 9

Cemeteries for tidy?

Christchurch’s cemeteries are in for a spruce up if the council adopts the recommendation of its parks and recreation committee.

The committee yesterday recommended in principle the progressive upgrading of cemeteries.

Members believed the funds for the work, in particular for the Memorial Park Cemetery, should be given priority at budget time.

The committee received a detailed report on the state of the cemeteries. The council is responsible for 64ha of cemetery land, three times the area of the Botanic Gardens.

Since the early 1980 s some improvement has been made, notably in Addington, but officers say that. for further im-

provement funds must be provided. This may mean increases in cemeteries’ charges. Areas needing attention were listed as control of vegetation, the removal of some badly broken concrete surrounds, additional planting, more staff buildings, better driveways, more labour resources, mowing, the relaying of horizontal plaques out of line to allow easier mowing, and the restoration of historical headstones. St Albans The council will not pursue the idea of a carpark on the land adjacent to St Albans Park. Instead it will offer the peaty block between the park and houses in Warrington Street for sale. One

of the residents whose properties bound the park has offered $15,000 for the land. A condition of the sale will be that trees on the boundary of the block are not removed or drastically pruned. - Councillors felt developing the areas for up to $70,000 was too much. Cr Carole Evans felt sports organisations using the park should also be approached, but that idea failed to win support. Horse

Horse and carriage rides in North Hagley Park have the blessing of the committee.

The director of parks and recreation, Mr Neiel Drain, outlined conditions for Revival Rides’ use of the park. These will now go to the council.