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Thursday November 23, 2017
readers have their say... Find out the WORD on the Street. Question: What do you think of the Let’s Get Welly Moving proposal to create a tunnel or underpasses by the Basin Reserve as a solution to our traffic woes?
Bruce Hamill, Vogeltown “I don’t find it difficult to get around. I don’t usually go that way and I bike to most places.”
Geoff Richards, Berhampore “We certainly need a second Mt Vic tunnel. There’s no point moving more traffic past the Basin until we have it. And we absolutely need a light rail.”
Miriam Zeier, Berhampore “We need to find out ways to move apart from cars. I don’t think a tunnel is a good idea as we live in an earthquakeprone area.”
Heather Matthews, Lyall Bay “I think we should go with a light rail. More cars and roads will make more congestion. I’m dismayed at what they’re doing.”
Richard Roberts, Miramar “I do support it; I think the Arras Tunnel should have been longer. I think it would be worth it, as it would cater for public and private transport.”
Baredu Adem, Mt Cook “I would support a flyover as better than a tunnel. I don’t know how they could build a tunnel without it affecting the cricket field.”
LETTERS to the editor Letters on issues of community interest are welcomed. Guidelines are that they should be no longer than 150 words. They must be signed and a street address provided to show good faith, even if a nom de plume is provided for publication. The editor reserves the right to abridge letters or withhold unsuitable letters from publication. Send or fax them to the address on page two, or email them to news@wsn.co.nz. Please note that your name and street address must also be provided in e mails.
Stating value of drugs inappropriate Dear Editor, Why, oh why, are the reports on finding a big cache of drugs usually stated in “Street value”? What on Earth for? One day politicians will notice that and see a solution to balancing the books. Surely the finds can and should
be quoted as numbers of deaths prevented, or something realistic like that. I have looked at the market and stock exchange reports, none lists the street market values of drugs like the TV and news reports do. I suppose there is a worth to the
dealers but the only details worth reporting are the cost to society, or damage prevented. (The only purpose I can see is when the ‘traders’ can claim a loss in their IRD returns) Paul Franken Strathmore Park
Using post-war European model for cycleways doesn’t work here Dear Editor, One great obvious factor Wellington councillors have failed to consider in the big push by the previous cyclemad mayor to introduce her deficient cycleways to Island Bay, is that they simply appropriated the old European versions to be adapted to our narrow Wellington streets. The European cycleway systems were well-established many decades ago on proposed public accessways while the post-WW2 European cities grew up around them, whereas although the southern Island Bay Parade is wide,
most of Wellington’s continuing streets to the city centre are just old narrow horse tracks. The Wellington councillors did not consider purchasing necessary housing properties along the routes for such a safe cycle accessway – instead they just squeezed it in on existing roads where they thought they could get away with it and they failed miserably, yet are still determined to spend millions more of ratepayers money to make themselves look good! Martin Beck, Mornington
Building work causing parking chaos in Newtown Dear Editor, There are two new builds in Newtown both in areas where public parking is at a minimal. Outside Newtown School where there is a 30-minute time limit, and is parking for the bank, and WINZ across the road. The other is further up Riddiford Street and near the shopping mall, and has a 60-minute time limit. Both of these parks are being taken up with vehicles belonging to the workers on these building sites, and WCC Parking Enforcement seems to be making sure they stay well away from these areas. I have been advised they can have a
permit allowing them to park, I have seen no sign of these permits on all of the vehicles, and in Normanby Street they even park their vehicles, without shame, in the disability park. Even if they do have a permit they should be restricted from using them in vital areas. I am disabled and I have been trying to get a disability park near WINZ and the Bank, but there were objections by parents for picking up and dropping off. I did ask why could not the disabled park be 9am-2.30pm; that was ignored by WCC. Heather Bevan Island Bay