Craft Market Gets Partial Thumbs Up

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL

To: Chief Reporter / Council Reporter
From: David Gee - Journalist
Media statement 2 December 1999

CRAFT MARKET GETS PARTIAL THUMBS UP

Establishing a high-quality arts and craft market on the New Brighton foreshore has been given approval in concept only.

The decision was made yesterday by the Christchurch City Council's parks and recreation committee on an application from the New Brighton Project (Main Street) which is keen to promote the area. Cr Gail Sheriff said that retailers in the area were struggling and shops were closing and, although the idea was good, it would impact on the shopkeepers. "I am in two minds about this," she said. Cr Carole Anderton said that if people were keen to start a market they should be allowed to do so. "If it is no good it will fall over," she said. "I am keen to let them try. We should not stand in the way if people are keen to do something. It believe we should encourage it," Cr Anderton said.

Helicopter did not get off ground

An application by Robin McCarthy of Skyview Helicopters to land a tourist helicopter on the sea end of New Brighton's pier was turned down. He said he wanted to put a removable platform at the end of the pier and run sightseeing tours from the platform most days of the week. Cr David Buist he said that he always supported initiative and said that all over the world helicopters were buzzing around the tourist spots. "I can only see it as an advantage to the tourist scene," he said. Crs Barry Corbett and Pat Harrow thought it could operate elsewhere in the city but not at the pier. Cr Carole Anderton said there had been horrendous problems with jetskis at Sumner and helicopter could cause similar problems in New Brighton.

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