Demolition brings out heritage protesters

Campaigners battling to save Christchurch's Majestic Theatre are staging a rally against its demolition.

The future of the 1930s-era building - the city's first fully steel-framed building - has been in doubt since its inclusion in the Christchurch Central Development Unit's (CCDU) street-widening plans for Manchester St.

It was also subject to a Section 45 notice, meaning it was considered a dangerous building.

Heritage campaigners will today march from the Valuing Our Heritage display in Cathedral Junction to the Majestic from 12.30pm.

Ross Gray, the deputy chairman of Historic Places Canterbury, said demolition should not proceed because the building had both heritage value and value as a performing arts space. "There's virtually nothing of that stature left in town, and certainly nothing from that 1930s [era]," he said.

Engineering reports he had seen showed the extent of the damage "varied greatly".

Traffic could veer around the Majestic if Manchester St was widened.

A CCDU spokesman said a contract for the demolition had been awarded and it was expected preparation for work would begin "over the next couple of weeks".

- Fairfax NZ News

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Demolition brings out heritage protesters