Editorial: Safety key to Hasting Central Business District plans

Linda Hall, Assistant Editor, Hawke's Bay Today.

The plans to revamp Hasting Central Business District look fantastic.

A facelift of the shopping area is well overdue.

While Napier has been looking better and better over the past few years with a very fine-looking Marine Parade, Hastings seems to have been rather neglected and looks tired.

I like all three of the proposed plans and would be happy with any of them.

Hastings is unique — how many other cities have a train track running through the centre. I love this aspect of the city.

I've seen people filming the trains and the children love it.

I'm hoping Chloe and her friends (the sheep) will remain along with all the other art in the city and some exciting new additions.

The sheep have been around since 1989 and represent the strong rural links to our rural community.

Included in the potential work programme is moving and improving the stage, adding tables and chairs, and adding lighting to the area to make it a night feature.

Hasting has so much potential, however in order to tap into that and ensure the inner city is full of vibrancy and life and the money spent is not wasted, there needs to be work around security.

Lots of lighting will help but I think we need more than that. Why not increase the presence of the wonderful City Assists. Employ more so they are around after dark.
That will make people feel safe about coming into town and in turn deter the ratbags that tend to congregate after dark.

The more people around the better— it makes for a safer and happier place to be.