Letters to the editor: Health and safety ruining playgrounds for children

Gone are the fun old playgrounds, lost to health and safety. Photo/file

Health and safety ruining playgrounds

Although I live overseas now, I have a house in Tauranga and visit my parents in Pahoia regularly. The highlight of this visit for my three boys was always the beautiful, large, swings down at the Pahoia reserve.

On my recent visit in April, we were gutted to find that they had been replaced with some pathetic small alternative swings, and I had trouble to explain to my 7 and 10-year-olds why someone would do this and take away such enjoyment from children.

I am aware of the unstoppable movement of health and safety and know that this email will achieve nothing, but I just wanted to express my disappointment with this new and ever increasingly restrictive form of regulation. Not even a couple of large swings on a quiet reserve were able to be spared.

Martin Giess
Matua

Fair valuations

Paul Stanley has got it right about the Bella Vista saga (Facebook feedback, July 27), but I'll go one step further.

Because these properties are unimproved and some unfinished and therefore hard to value, we could value them at current market ''improved value'' then deduct costs of improvements, finishing etc.

A group consisting of competent builders, concrete layers, landscapers, electricians and plumbers, should be able to quote these in a timely fashion.

Tony Hewitson
Tauranga

Abusing the system

In regards to the man who wants to use his mobility car on Matapihi rail bridge, these are not mobility scooters (News, July 19) and the owners know that, but at the moment our mobility scooter laws are so-so, hence they get away with it.

These carry passengers - come on!

Even post office workers ride on the road and their machines are the same.

In my opinion, this is abusing the system for others.

Robyn Cherry
Pāpāmoa