Pegasus ward problems

Press, 12 April 1979, Page 16

Pegasus ward problems

Sir, — May I. through your column, ask the Mayor and Citizens councillors the following questions:— (1) Is the council going to allow the Drainage Board to continue developing large housing areas in the Pegasus ward when the stormwater drains cannot cope with existing housing? (2) What does the council intend doing about the road-flood-ing in the Breezes RoadPembroke Street area by

Chisnallwood Intermediate and Avondale Schools? (3) What does the council intend doing about the grass berms and footpaths between the two schools and by Dr C. P. Reece’s surgery? These footpaths affect hundreds of children going to Aranui High School, Avondale primary and Chisnallwood Intermediate. Dr Reece wrote to the papers last winter and after much negotiating with the works committee chairman the problem was only slightly rectified. I hope that the Mayor, as chairman of International Year of the Child, will give the children of this area urgent consideration. — Yours, DENISE GEARRY (Mrs). March 27, 1979. [The Mayor, Mr H. G. Hay, replies: “The Christchurch Drainage Board is the statutory drainage authority for the Christchurch metropolis tan area, and accordingly, controls all stormwater drainage within the metropolitan area. The council has no power to prevent subdivision development taking place on land which is already zoned for residential purposes. The Drainage Board at present owns land so zoned in the Pegasus ward. The council is certainly in a position to object to any proposal to change the zoning of land should it consider drainage facilities to be unsatisfactory. Road flooding in the Breezes Road-Pembroke Street area is caused by inadequate stormwater outfall capacity for peak rainfall conditions. Responsibility for provision of adequate stormwater outfall capacity rests with the Christchurch Drainage Board, During the last financial year, the council widened the sealed footpath on the southwest side of Breezes Road between Wainoni Road and the Avondale Primary School. At the same time, just west of the school entrance, a grass berm was removed and the area sealed to provide a set-down area for children being brought to the school by car. These improvements have been most successful, and it is hoped to make provision in the Budget for the 1979-80 financial year for the footpath to be widened in a similar manner from the Avondale Primary School to Pembroke Street on the south side, and from the pedestrian crossing to Avondale Road on the north side.”]