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25 January 2001 |
Moves To Save Samoan Church
Efforts to save the historic Samoan Congregational Church in Sydenham are being stepped up. Three Christchurch City Councillors - Anna Crighton, Sue Wells and Barry Corbett - are trying to arrange a meeting with the church’s owner next week.
The church, on the corner of Colombo and Brougham streets, has been under threat of demolition for several years.
The Hagley-Ferrymead and Spreydon-Heathcote community boards met informally this week to discuss the matter.
No formal resolution was put to the meeting but both boards and the City Council’s Environment Committee, of which Cr. Crighton is chairwoman, will be dealing with the issue as a “matter of priority in the February round of meetings.”
The three Councillors have been asked to invite the owner of the church to discuss retention options with them prior to the application for demolition being formally notified.
Council staff has received an application to demolish the stone church building and it is expected to be notified on Wednesday 31 January.
Once the application is notified the public can express views on the matter and can get submission forms from Council service centres or the Civic Offices.
Cr. Crighton said many people might not know that they could make submissions to the resource consent hearing.
In 1997 a resource consent to demolish the building by the then owner was withdrawn when it attracted 86 individual submissions and a petition from local residents of more than 700 signatures.
Further information: Anna Crighton: 025 983 206; Sue Wells 025 229 0505 or 332 1611; Barry Corbett 025 229 4103 or 332 4997.