Tavern for Arthur’s Pass?

Press, 26 January 1988, Page 5

Tavern for Arthur’s Pass?

By

JANE DUNBAR

Arthur’s Pass could soon have a tavern. The Arthur’s Pass Tearooms’ proprietor, Clifford James Reid, proposes to build a small licensed tavern beside his tearooms.

However, several objections have been raised against the proposed tavern, including traffic safety, insufficient parking, noise, extra rubbish and sewage disposal. Removal of vegetation in the area of a national park and the effect on the neighbourhood were questions raised in 16 objections heard at a Malvern County Council town plan-

ning hearing yesterday. Most objectors said they did not oppose a tavern being built in the area, but were against the proposed site. They said the site was small, and there would - not be room for the carparking required by the District Scheme, which does allow for a tavern in the Arthur’s Pass village. Mr Reid submitted that 26 car-parks and a buspark would be sufficient, and that a car-park big enough for 40 (as required) would be an “intrusion into the local environment.” The Ministry of Works and Development objected on the grounds of

potential parking and traffic safety problems. One of its suggestions was that Mr Reid pay for a con-crete-kerbed island to be built between the road and the parking area in front of the tavern. Mr Reid said he did not believe he should have to pay for improvements to traffic safety on the State highway. Mr lan Holmes and his family who live alongside the proposed site were also among the objectors. Lack of privacy and noise were among their concerns. Mr Reid said he was planning screening and landscaping, and he

doubted the tavern would cause much of a problem. His solicitor, Mr Sam Mating, said Mr Holmes should have consulted the District Scheme before buying his property. He would then have known it was possible a tavern would be built on the neighbouring site. Other objections concerned the problems caused by drinking drivers, disturbance of the local community by drunk people, and the “undesirable attraction” of a tavern to young visitors in the area. The Malvern County Council will announce its decision soon.