Council 'must pull out'

The Christchurch City Council should rule out funding the construction of a music school at the Arts Centre after planners rejected the controversial proposal, a councillor says.

The council last year approved $24.5 million in funding for a conservatorium for the University of Canterbury, subject to resource consent being granted.

Independent commissioners said the proposed building was too large and bulky.

Councillor Helen Broughton said the council vote should be revisited in light of last week's planning decision.

"For council to continue to fund the proposal in light of this decision would be irresponsible.

"Our council has already contributed one half of the cost of the resource consent, to my knowledge," she said.

"We simply must stop.

"If the University of Canterbury and the Arts Centre board wish to continue, that is a decision they will need to make, but no more council involvement or funding of this ill-conceived proposal."

Arts Centre director Ken Franklin and university vice-chancellor Rod Carr have not ruled out appealing the commissioners' decision.

Franklin said it would be disappointing if the council withdrew.

"If the university were prepared to go ahead and the council didn't participate, that would be unfortunate."

Cr Yani Johanson said the decision should not be appealed.

"I now call on the university and the council to abandon its ludicrous proposal."

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