Thursday 27 May 2004

Council gets go ahead for Latimer Square project

Christchurch City Council will be advised to proceed with the process of closing Worcester St through Latimer Square at today’s Council meeting.

The recommendation comes from a panel of three City Councillors appointed to review public submissions on the road closure under the Local Government Act.

The group found that nothing in the objections outweighed the benefits of the road closure, according to Council project manager, John de Zwart.

An independent commissioner, who was also part of the panel, is looking at the road closure in relation to the City Plan and Resource Management Act. He will deliver his decision in about a month.

“We have been through a long and scrupulous consultation process including public meetings, submissions and meetings at Council. We are now at the stage that all the issues have been heard and today we will find out if the Council wants to proceed to the next stage,” Mr de Zwart said.

The next step in the process, in relation to the Local Government Act, would involve objections to the road closure being heard in the Environment Court.

The Council decided to seek community input on upgrading Latimer Square in December 2002. It was thought that merging the two halves of the Square into one green space, similar to Cranmer Square, could provide increased opportunities for recreation activities and events.

ENDS

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