Town’s plans surface again

Press, 8 December 1988, Page 16

Town’s plans surface again

By

PAM MORTON

Plans for Lyttelton’s town centre have surfaced again following the release of a report from a working party set up to look at improvements to the town.

A spokesman for the group, Mr Alec Bruce, said if the working party’s suggestions were adopted Lyttelton in the 1990 s could look much like Lyttelton in 1890.

“perceived inequalities” in the rating system were creating dissatisfaction among local retailers and that a new spirit of cooperation between the council and retailers was needed to rectify problems in the commercial centre.

future development was in line with a historical theme.

It also recommended that a list of buildings regarded as historically significant by the group be forwarded to the Historic Places Trust. Only nine buildings in the borough have been classified by the trust as being of historic importance.

"The strong history of the town must be acknowledged as the logical starting point in making any proposals to revitalise the commercial centre. London Street was more inviting 100 years ago than it is today,” Mr Bruce said.

Lyttelton was described in the report as a town undergoing change. The tunnel had opened an easy passage to Christchurch, and Lyttelton was becoming less of a port town. The social change was linked to economic changes which had affected the commercial sector "most drastically.” The report stated that the traditional requirements of the town were changing as residents sought competitively priced goods through the tunnel.

The report states that the development of the London Street commercial area by the owners and occupiers is being held back by a "burdensome and crippling rating system.”

The group was aiming to establish links with the past and to stop Lyttelton from developing a “could-be-anywhere” feel.

“The historic presence should be acknowledged,” he said.

The group said that the present method used for setting commercial rates was outdated and acted as a disincentive for owners to invest in improvements.

Reports commissioned by the Lyttelton Borough Council in May, 1987, on improving traffic management and the appearance of the town centre were not well received by local residents. One of the criticisms was that insufficient regard had been paid to Lyttelton’s existing character.

Taking into account the history of the port, the need for a recognisable identity, and a limited budget, the working party agreed that the best proposal for the town was to adopt a plan which would re-establish the historical Lyttelton. Plans put forward by the group include Vic-torian-style street lighting, the narrowing of the east and west ends of London Street and the remodel ling of- the supermarket facade.

By changing to a capital value rating system cooperation would be fostered and lead to property owners and commercial operators maintaining a higher standard of property maintenance, the report said. Tree planting and the landscaping of areas in the town were also suggested. Mr Bruce said the plan was in the best interests of the town and could be adopted by whoever was running the town after amalgamation.

A working party of residents and interested groups was set up in July this year and given the task of preparing another report on improvements to London Street, taking into account the previous reports from the Traffic Design Group and architect, Mr George Lucking. The report was presented to the council at the end of September. The report found that insufficient parking and

The work is expected to cost about $127,000.

The submissions are available at the Lyttelton Borough Council offices for comment from residents and ratepayers.

The group advocated the adoption of a style book into the district scheme to ensure that