ON-STAGE LOVE AFFAIR
RISING FROM THE RUBBLE
City couple tie-up big role in Mamma Mia
Old mixed with new in property rebuild
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Thursday, March 31, 2016
$895k grant won’t be affected by quake repairs scrutiny
PINGED: Newstalk ZB talk show host Chris Lynch was caught for using his cellphone while driving.
PHOTOS: GEOFF SLOAN
Canterbury motorists worst for using cellphones while driving By Andrew King MORE drivers in Canterbury than any other area in New Zealand were nabbed using their mobile phone while driving last year. Latest figures show the Canterbury Metro police district, which includes Christchurch and North Canterbury had a reported 3622 drivers caught texting or phoning while driving last year – up from 3313 in 2014. This equated to $289,600 in infringement notices. Auckland Central policing district had 3325 offenders, with Waitemata Auckland Motorways district finishing out
the top three on 2136. This comes after police said they were disappointed at the actions of 26 people, including Newstalk ZB’s talk show host Chris Lynch, who were fined for using a mobile device while driving past a serious crash on Tuesday (above). An elderly woman’s car
veered off the road, hitting a lamp post causing it to overturn about 1.30pm on Main South Rd, Templeton. She was cut from the vehicle and taken to Christchurch Hospital’s intensive care unit in a critical condition. Her condition is now stable. Lynch was filming the crash
TRAVEL P19 Noticeable sense of pride in the ’Naki
scene from his car. Police said yesterdayrecording misery and posting it to social media was “perverse”. Lynch did not return calls yesterday for comment. Constable Andy Williamson who attended the Templeton crash said: “You would think the sight of a car crash would make people think about road safety.” The worst month for offenders was September, when almost double the amount of tickets were issued at 694. This was when police carried out a month-long operation targeting drivers using their mobile device while driving. The penalty is an $80 fine and 20 demerit points.
starnews.co.nz
By Emma-Jane McLennan THE DIRECTORS behind a company awarded a $895,000 grant to restore a heritage building have come under scrutiny this week, as customers complain of substandard earthquake repairs. Farrell Group Ltd has been criticised for allegedly failing to meet deadlines, producing substandard work and breaching building consents on residential repairs. Directors, brothers Rob and Sean Farrell, and Simon Doig, have been given a city council grant to restore the Caffe Roma building on Oxford St, through another company they oversee – Club Lane Ltd. They will likely still get the grant in spite of the complaints, city councillor Andrew Turner said. “I don’t see their other business as particularly relevant to this project. The purpose of the grant is to save this building, and if the repairs aren’t done it won’t be paid.” Customers of Farrell Group Ltd say they have taken their complaints to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Fairfax reported this week. Some homeowners have terminated their contracts with the company, frustrated at delays. The city council decided last week to grant $895,000 for the restoration of the old Midland Club Building, commonly known as the Caffe Roma building, on Oxford St. • Turn to page 5
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