Council ‘could look biased’ over plan

Press, 18 December 1989, Page 35

Council ‘could look biased’ over plan

By

MICHAEL RENTOUL

The Christchurch City Council has been accused of presumptive bias in considering a scheme change relating to Church Square in Addington when it had already adopted a neighbourhood plan for the square. The council was closely linked to the proposed redevelopment in the square and could not be seen as impartial, Miss Evelyn Khoo, counsel for an objector to the scheme change told the council’s town planning hearing panel. The change would result in the closing of streets on the south-west end of the square and the creation of a village green, a proposal which has divided residents in the area. Miss Khoo, for a Church Square resident, Mr Eric Smart, said the Addington Neighbourhood Plan was drawn up by council staff in response to a request by the Addington Neighbourhood Group and St Mary’s Anglican parish, in Church Square. Approved by the council last year, the plan provides for the closing of Ward Street and Collins Street, and for a single lane one-way vehicle access winding from either stretch of Poulson Street to link Ward Street and Collins Street.

The council should appoint independent commissioners to hear the scheme change and road stop applications, Miss Khoo said.

“Scheme change No. 34 was proposed because the Christchurch City Council thought that to enable the proposed redevelopment of Church Square to be implemented it would be necessary to restrict traffic from using the southwest portion of the square. “Furthmore, it shall be noted that in return for the council building the church parish a small (adjoining) lounge, the church property trustees have agreed tb cede the

Church hall in the northeast part of the square to the council to be used as a community centre.” The St Mary’s vicar and co-ordinator of the Addington Neighbourhood Group, the Rev. Hugh Bowron, denied that a decision had been made and said that the exchange was still a “distant probability.” Miss Khoo said she was not alleging bias, merely alerting the council that it could be seen as biased because of its earlier acceptance of the neighbourhood plan. A panel member, Mrs Linda Constable, said the decision was made by a different council and before amalgamation. The council’s town planner, Mr John Gibson, said the road stoppages were for traffic management purposes. “The creation of the extra open space and redevelopment of the square is simply a consequence of traffic management.” The council wants to divert traffic from around the square, on to Selwyn and Antigua streets. Both applications would be heard by the Planning Tribunal, unless objections were withdrawn, said the council’s traffic engineer, Mr Bill Greenwood. The panel chairman, Cr Rex Arbuckle, said this should put an end to concerns about bias. Opponents of the road closings say they will increase isolation in the square, leading to security problems. The closings are intended to stop traffic using the square as a through-route. Restrictions are also proposed for Emerson Street, Dickson Street, and the intersections of Brougham and Collins streets, and Moorhouse Avenue and Groves Road. Major Alvin Flintoff, for the Salvation Army, said he was afraid foot and vehicle traffic on Emerson Street would increase if Collins Street was stopped. The Army’s Poul-

son/Emerson Street Social Services Centre, sometimes home to men with a history of sexual offending and psychiatric problems, was used by children as a short-cut, he said. But in a submission to the hearing, the Addington community constable supported the proposed changes in the square. Constable Paul Forman said they would give improved security through increased visibility. Two residents said the planned village green would provide a playing area for children, who, they said, faced considerable danger in crossing Church Square. Other residents disputed -that the road around the square was used as a “race track.” Mrs Jean Adams, appearing for 17 elderly residents of a Ward Street housing complex, said the residents would be forced to use taxis or cross busy Selwyn Street as a result of losing their bus route from the changes. Many were on sticks and had to go to hospital regularly, she said. Mr Greenwood said most of the existing bus route would be retained. To objections that the council could not afford the cost of the changes, the Rev. Bowron said that for years Addington had been “under-served” by the council in terms of its share of the rates dollar. Addington had gradually declined, especially in its sense of community. Debate on the square had rekindled this, he said. Improved lighting and visibility in and around the square would be necessary for people to feel safe, he said: The changes were supported by a majority of Addington residents, but the main issue for the parish and neighbourhood group was the importance of the community, he said. The decision was reserved.