With reporting by Georgia O’Connor-Harding, Western News

 The Christchurch City Council is to be asked to reconsider a plan that would significantly impact the intersection of Riccarton, Ilam and Middleton Roads.

 Council staff propose a $1 million upgrade to improve safety at what has been labelled the city’s fourth most dangerous intersection, with 40 crashes being reported between 2011 and June last year.

The proposal would ban right turns into Riccarton Rd from both Ilam and Middleton Rds.

But community board member Helen Broughton strongly opposed the plan at the most recent board meeting, and described it as the most “serious proposal” ever seen to potentially impact residential living.

Mrs Broughton put forward an amendment calling for the vehicle flow from Middleton Rd to Ilam Rd to be maintained.

She also asked for double phasing of the Riccarton Rd traffic signals to give Riccarton Rd traffic more priority and to keep public transport on the road running at an efficient rate.

“I believe it is important to keep the flow between Middleton and Ilam Rd ... you have got Canterbury University on Ilam Rd with more than 14,000 students,” Mrs Broughton said.

Mrs Broughton was also concerned that traffic would deviate to residential roads if the changes went ahead.

Her amendment received widespread support from fellow board members Mark Peters, Debbie Mora, deputy chairman Andrei Moore and city councillor Catherine Chu.

But city councillor Jimmy Chen and board chairman Mike Mora were unsupportive of Mrs Broughton’s amendment due to concern over safety issues.

While Mrs Broughton’s amendment received some opposition, all board members other than Mr Mora and Cr Chen voted for it to go theouhg.

City councillor Anne Galloway and board member Gamal Fouda were absent from the meeting.

The proposed changes will go to the city council for final approval.