Reprieve likely for (store

Press, 18 March 1988, Page 24

Reprieve likely for (store

The Fendalton Food Store might have received a reprieve for at least the next five years. The future oi the Fendalton Road shop./owned by the Waimairi District Council! hasj been in doubt since the manager decided not to renew his lease when jit expires at the end of this month. Council staff had recommended that the store be closed.! because of structural [problems and the cosi of; rebuilding or resiling.!

However.! at Wednesday evening's council meeting it was decided that Fendalton [ ridting members would icontribute to the S 10.000! cost of improving the building. This is on the- condition that a suitable tenant be found. Cr Briari Shackel said he thought! there was life left in the SO-year-old building, and he would be concerned fit the facility was ioSt. .

He said it was a long way to the inner city; and there were no other shops in theisurr-oundihg area. “We! have to consider the community and I think ! that doing ’ away with [a facility of this nature would be . quite detrimental unless there is an alternative. The shop is old, but I think it

could be much, bright ?r and better and I think it could be a very viable seven-day business." Several councillors recently visited the. shop to examine its condition, fr John Hanafin said he was not impressed with t re building. The floor was in a pc or state of repair, and tie store did not comply w th Food Hygiene Regu ations. "I think that [if the council did not own ! he building, it would be condemned." said. Cr Hanafin. The long-term future of the shop is still in dotbt. because it is situated off a narrow area of road on land which will proba sly be needed when the F ?n--daiton Road widen ng comes under consideration. ' ‘Paper shredder’ Cr Shackel said he was concerned that when the Government received all the submissions'on 1c cal government reform it would put them through a paper shredder. Councillors were considering a report on the principal elements which are- to make . up Waimairi's submission on the local government reform discussion' docu-

ment. The council has commissioned the report from an. independent firm of consultants. Gabites. Porter and Partners.' The initial report, to be forwarded to the Local' Government Commission, addresses the issues behind the 100 questions in the discussion document. These include the functions of local.and regional government, its structure, funding and accountability to the public. ‘Cr Shackel said he believed that the Government already knew. what, it wanted in local government reform, and was' not going to take any notice of the submissions. "I. have visions of two or three little people! in Wellington trying to work through all these submissions and come up with some conclusion." he said. "All this is is more paper. We have had years and years and years of it and I am bored to tears." The District Chairman. Mrs Margaret : Murray, said that the council had an opportunity to put forward its suggestions and it should remain 'optimistic. Local authorities were responsible for the direction local government reform took"The challenge lies with

us and we have, to do something about it.' Noone will lever accuse; this council i of, not having acted responsibly." Air pollution The council will give 516.000 to the Canterbury United Council's air pollution I publicity campaign, on 'condition that the Christchurch City; Council contributes on a similar basis. J The decision resulted from a recent meeting between an investigating sub-committee [of the council, and two representatives of the United Council. The council ; imeeting last [evening also endorsed a recommendation that it defer a decision on the implementation of a ban on open fires in 11992. .! I ’ Transport levy A decision by Ithe Government to reduce its national grant to the Urban Transport Council by 20 -per cent has been criticised by [[Waimairi councillors. y The reduction! is likely to result in an increase in the urban transport levy which must now be paid bv local authorities.

Mrs- Murray ['said she was opposed to[ any in-

crease going on to the ratepayer as far as urban, transport was concerned. ["To come in as late as they are and tell us they are going to cut it by that m[uch is just unforgivable." [The council has decided to write to the ment expressing concern about the withdrawal of the. 20 per cent in the contribution.