Restrictions Imposed For Presidents

Access to four areas of Christchurch will be limited for the visits of United States President Bill Clinton and the Chinese President, Jiang Zemin, next week.

Three areas will be severely restricted for much of September 15 while restrictions in the fourth will be of a shorter duration on September 14.

The restrictions are necessary because of the activities of the two presidents.

The Christchurch City Council announced today that areas affected will be:

All vehicles, including cycles, will be banned around the Sign of the Takahe, Cashmere Hills from 9am until 4pm. Parking will also be banned in the restricted area from 3am and no vehicle movements will be allowed from 9am until 4pm. Pedestrians will be allowed access. Traffic will be stopped at the lower Dyers Pass Road-Hackthorne Road intersection and in all streets leading to Dyers Pass Road and Hackthorne Road around the Sign of the Takahe. Traffic will also be stopped at the Sign of the Kiwi on the Port Hills. Residents travelling from Banks Peninsula to Christchurch are asked to travel via Lyttelton. For information on bus service detours contact Bus Info 366 8855. Police are making arrangements for the Cashmere Primary School and the Cashmere Free Kindergarten. All households in the affected area will be individually informed of the restrictions.

Part of Cathedral Square will be closed on September 15, but buses will continue to run from the normal bus stops although some will be re-routed. The northeast corner will be closed along Worcester Street to Manchester Street. Entry to the square will be stopped at the Hereford Street-Colombo Street intersection, although buses will be allowed into Gloucester Street. All parking will be banned in the Square from 8am and vehicles found there from then will be towed away. No traffic will be allowed into the restricted area between 8am to 11pm. The Christchurch tram will not run. Pedestrian traffic will not be affected.

Orchard Road, from Memorial Avenue to Wairakei Road, will be closed from 8am to 11pm to all vehicles, including cyclists.

Restrictions at Cashel Street and High Street on September 14 will be from 5.30pm to 11pm to all vehicles, including cyclists.