According to one of the Christchurch's the chief retailers who has claimed for major upgradation of the city's Cathedral Square.

The objective is to make the heart of city feel more lured for support coming from city leaders.

Several calls have been made by Christchurch retailer Richard Ballantyne for a major change in the name of Cathedral Square, with more cafes, more greenery and a slow traffic lane through the middle.

Local architect Richard Dalman explained: “It's quite large just for everyday use, so to make it a more appropriate size, activating the edges, getting people sitting at cafes I think is a good way to go.”

The objective is to pump up the services to liven up the atmosphere. Wigram MP Jim Anderton said, “I think it should be an intimate place where you feel comfortable and can relax, whereas at the moment it is a little windswept concrete jungle, not very attractive to ordinary people.”

The square has earlier been used by the public transport hub of Christchurch, where traffic flowed through and around the cathedral.

Suggestions have been laid to downsize the square sought a mixed response and cathedral Dean Peter Beck offers one real concern.

Mr Beck further adds, “I've got some real reservations about the idea of putting a road through in front of the cathedral, but the concept of doing some major rethinks on the square is not before time.”