Victoria Square

Press, 6 October 1988, Page 14

Victoria Square

Sir,—lt appears that the thinking citizens of Christchurch are finding it difficult to convey to the Christchurch City Council that what is required for Victoria Square is the image of space put to good effect by gardens and flowers. This would consolidate and emphasise Christchurch as the “Garden City.” This basic idea has been confirmed on Victoria Island, Canada, which attracts thousands of tourists to that area. We already have four fine “tearooms” on the perimeter of Victoria Square at the moment; maybe, when more buildings are finished around and about, there will be many more. Let us make a feature of the things we do best — beautiful gardens with seating, etc. Give our garden experts the opportunity to show their expertise. Economics is another issue but I shall leave that to the good sense of the council. — Yours, etc., F NFII October 3, 1988. Sir,—Oh for a council which had vision like our forefathers had when our city was planned. Victoria Square is a beauty to behold with its English lawns and gardens, and for the elderly who cannot go further afield it is !a delight to rest there. It would be dreadful for it to be like the Square now, which has been made worse with the surface of the tiles being removed and food scraps being trodden in. There are plenty of eating places around the city squares without any being added and the grandiose plans of the council, using the ratepayers’ money, would be another target for vandals. Evidently, too, the panel appointed will be biased if those councillors who expressed an opinion would not be allowed to be on it. We citizens want a fair go in the way our city is run.—Yours, etc., M. GILMORE. October 5,1988.