Western News: May 22, 2018

8 Tuesday May 22 2018
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
WESTERN NEWS
Villa students take in the old world
SCHOOLS
LEARNING HOLIDAY:
Students from Villa Maria
College and Shirley Boys’
High School visiting the
Colesseum in Rome.
STUDENTS FROM Villa Maria
College have just come back from
a European adventure over the
holidays.
The year 12 and 13 students
travelled to Greece and Italy with
students from Shirley Boys’ High
School as part of their classics
tour.
The tour began in Athens,
Greece, and went to classical
sites including the buildings on
the Acropolis, the Temple of
Hephaestus, and the old Greek
Agora.
“The traditional Greek dancing
night was very entertaining,
as was witnessing the students
haggling in the Plaka market
area. From Athens we went south
to the Peloponnese, and visited
the towns of Corinth, Nafplio,
Sparta, Mystras and Olympia,”
Villa Maria teacher in charge of
classical studies, Simone Bailey,
said.
From Greece, the group travelled
to Italy, basing themselves
in Sorrento.
The students, along with
the parents and teachers accompanying
the group, visited
the preserved city of Pompeii, a
UNESCO world heritage site, to
experience how the Romans lived
during the first century.
In Rome, the group visited
many different classical sites,
including the Colosseum, Roman
Forum, Ara Pacis Augustae, Trajan’s
Column, and the Pantheon.
“A visit to the Vatican museums,
the Sistine Chapel and
St Peter’s Basilica was an aweinspiring
time for students,” said
Miss Bailey.
A “highlight” of the trip was
being part of the papal general
audience in St Peter’s Square, she
said.
“As a Catholic school, it was
an amazing opportunity for
students to see and listen to
the pope, and to see him on his
famous pope-mobile. He spoke
of peace and unity in the world,
and blessed us and our families,”
Miss Bailey said.
The occasion would be treasured
by the students for a long
time, she said.
Call to improve cycle safety on Memorial Avenue
• By Sophie Cornish
A CALL has been made to
improve cycle safety on Memorial
Ave including extending cycle
lanes and changes to parking
management.
In a city council Long Term
Plan 2018-2028 submission last
week, the Commodore Hotel
expressed its interest in supporting
an increase in cyclists using
Memorial Ave, however, it said
cyclists often have to compete
with parked cars for space in the
corridor.
“This pushes cyclists out into
the traffic lane encroaching into
motorist’s space and creates an
unsafe environment for all,”
said the submission, presented
by general manager Michael
Patterson.
Currently on-street parking on
Memorial Ave is not subject to
time restrictions or parking fees.
The hotel is requesting parking
restrictions be applied to reduce
all-day parking near the airport
and that ideas around parking
clearways during peak hours and
shared paths be considered.
“The hotel has an interest in
safer cycle access for it’s employees,
tourist opportunities with
e-bikes, families that regularly
cycle along this route and as a
organisation with a strong desire
to see more people safely cycling
on a comprehensive cycle network
in Christchurch,” said the
submission.
The draft LTP currently
proposes a $206m investment
in the Major Cycleways Routes,
however, none of these routes
provide a direct link between the
Christchurch International Airport
and the central city, along
Memorial Ave.
Mr Patterson said along with
key attractors at each end of the
route (the airport and central
city), there are many institutions
that would benefit from improved
cycle provisions including Burnside
Park, Burnside High School,
Christ The King Catholic School,
Burnside Primary School, as well
as thousands of residents.
It acknowledged there are
sections where parking removal
would conflict with other community
facilities, such as sports
facilities at Burnside Park.
In this location, a shared path
facility on the footpath could be
considered.
Christchurch Airport
development and compliance
manager Felicity Blackmore
supports the submission and said
currently cycling to the airport
now is only safe if you are an
“expert cyclist.”
“You have to be willing to take
your life into your hands, most
days, as a person who does this
every day. The only way to get
there is by driving your car essentially,”
she said.
SPACE NEEDED: A motorist driving on Memorial Ave crosses
the centre-line to give the cyclist enough room.
PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER
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