Letters to the editor: Can the stadium plan and rebuild Memorial Park facility

The Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre and Memorial Hall, pictured from the east in 2008. Photo / Jimmy Joe

OPINION

A crisis: The Memorial Park sports facilities have been revealed to be below recognised safety standards and in all respects in urgent need of repair and a rebuild (News, June 21).

To me, it makes sense for the Tauranga Domain multi-purpose stadium project to be abandoned and for immediate steps to be taken to divert all resources towards rebuilding the swimming pool and sports centre facilities at Memorial Park.

The potential benefits to the city of a revitalised Memorial Park far outweigh those of the ill-conceived Domain proposal.

Memorial Park could become the recreation hub Tauranga needs.

The Commissioners’ term of office will probably end in July next year. When that happens, Tauranga residents will be able to elect their own councillors and mayor. It will be interesting to see where the candidates stand on the question of whether we should have a stadium on the Domain or a revitalised Memorial Park.

Barry Scott

Pāpāmoa

Cold case

In the cold case article about the murder of a 6-year-old girl (News, June 17), it was reported that police were in possession of the suspect’s DNA but were unable to access records of the big family tree companies.

I have watched many programmes by our own David Lomas who searches for lost relations and he frequently gets help from the massive worldwide files of these big companies.

So why on earth can’t our police?

D Lawrence

Tauranga

Construct wider roads

If cycleways are to be constructed the road widths of the likes of Te Puke’s Boucher Ave and Tauranga’s Cameron Rd must be widened as part of the process.

These roads were surveyed before cars roamed our streets. Councils have since squeezed footpaths, car parking (both sides), centre-line median strips and side markers into the carriageway.

The so-called residual roads that remain are now already totally inadequate for the safe passage of cars and trucks.

We need to construct wider roads as a prerequisite to installing cycle lanes.

RG Ashton

Te Puke

Cheaper and more effective answer to ram raids

I have a suggestion regarding ram raids. Instead of costly bollards that take too long to install, why not just place a massive concrete block in front of doorways and windows with enough space for customers to enter and exit?

Cheaper but more effective and they could even be prettied up with plants.

They could even have slits on the sides for bike parking.

I would love to see a burglar try to ram-raid their way through one.

Viv Radley

Rotorua

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