Letters to the Editor: Wednesday, 28 September, 2016

Spray prickleweed please
Currently council is spending an enormous amount of money upgrading the seawall from 7th Ave to Fraser St.

This also involves laying a small strip of ready grass immediately behind the new seawall.
This is really great for what is a well-used, passive recreational area with a large children's playground.

However, has council sprayed the prickleweed which is rife all around the children's play area, the existing foreshore grass and in many other areas in the park?

Prickleweed is a massive impediment over several months to family enjoyment.

It wasn't done last year and is now really bad.

While it is almost too late but there is still time, say next week when hopefully the weather improves.

Bill Capamagian
Tauranga

Park applause
In contrast to the R Paterson's letter published on September 26, regarding the removal of car parks at Phoenix Park, I would like to congratulate council on their foresight and courage to progress with this great project.

Phoenix Park will be a welcome addition to the Mount mainstreet landscape, as will the removal of car parks.

Over the next 10 years, we will no doubt see more mainstreets rush to bring back vibrancy to their shops through creating "shared spaces" and encouraging more pedestrian-friendly environments.

We don't need to look far to see that Auckland and Wellington have done the same, and the result?

Safer, cleaner, more attractive, flexible and fun spaces, which deliver higher incomes for retailers and raise property values.

I reckon most Mounties want this.

James Hughes
Mount Maunganui

Electronic age
Just as you, Rebecca Malcolm, (Opinion, September 21) I remember when I was first introduced to the internet and computers - but I am so very pleased to have spent my teenage years totally electronic device free.

I know that to those who are growing up now, and who have computers, cellphones, iPads etc as part of their daily routine, it must sound archaic to hear that a lot of people, their parents and especially their grandparents grew up in a world that had party-line telephones, and listened to programmes on the radio instead of watching endless television.

Those times were really great.

But we have all moved forward and find ourselves in this electronically controlled world along with our children and grandchildren.

Nowadays it is even more important for parents to be aware of what their children are up to, who their friends are and where they go to for "fun".

Parents nowadays really need to keep in touch, without being over-intrusive, but it is so important to have boundaries and let your children know that you care what they are exposed to and who they see.

Don't try and be such a "modern "parent that you give your child so much space and freedom on the internet that they find themselves in a position that is both harmful and permanently damaging.
(Abridged)

Isabel Ashmore
Tauranga