Letters to Editor: It's back to the drawing board

It's back to the drawing board
Like many who read G J C Ferguson's piece on a "unified" region, I was impressed.
It was nicely articulated and had a bit of emotion to add effect - but was deeply flawed.
It's way too simplistic. It ignores so many intricacies and differences between our two unique cities.
Napier and Hastings - for most Napier residents - are worlds apart. That is the point many who are "for" amalgamation don't understand, and it seems they are predominantly from Hastings.
Countries in Europe didn't say "let's become one giant country" but instead sought to develop better ties and relations - thus the EU was born.
Like MP Stuart Nash says, it's not an "all or nothing" situation. There are other alternatives to amalgamation that can address the issues G J C Ferguson raised. We don't need to relinquish our identities in order to produce a unified front for NZ. We need to go back to the drawing board and consider new initiatives to develop stronger Napier-Hastings ties. (Abridged)
Aaron Dustow, Napier
Desperate reaction
It is most interesting to read of all the Hastings populace whom supposedly think the councillors of Napier have have their heads in the sand regarding this amalgamation theory.
This, I believe, is far from the truth. This, more to the point, is a shoot-from-the-hip desperate reaction from the councillors, mayor and ratepayers from Hastings in an attempt to shift the burden of vastly increasing debt from historic and present Hastings councils.
Yes, I live in Napier. Yes, I have lived in Hastings. And yes, I know which one I prefer.
Preference goes to the astute, diligent, hard-working councillors of Napier for the environment that has been created within Napier, and good decision-making that has kept Napier a beautiful, clean and vibrant city to be proud of.
Once your own councillors - city and district - are in order and at the same debt level as Napier, then would be the time for the populace of Hastings to start telling us why and what we are doing wrong.
We might have our heads in the sand - maybe - but we have options.
Much better than having concrete shoes of debt, too many roundabouts and, at the moment, no options.
Greg Patterson, Napier
More borrowing
 So Labour is to raise the minimum wage by $2 per hour. I like it - $80 per week - as the minimum wage is the minimum required "to keep the wolf from the door".
So my benefit is also going to go up by 66 per cent of $80, or $52.80 per week. Labour will have to borrow to fund this increase. Good thinking. (Anything National can do, Labour can do better). (Abridged)
Russell Synnott, Napier
Parking nightmare
I write to support the letter of Dr Rhod Murray, Wednesday 13.7.11.
Today, I had occasion with my wife to attend an appointment at the Gascoigne Medical Centre. Our appointment was early in the afternoon and we were fortunate to be able to park in the remaining spot outside the Medical Centre.
A few minutes later and cars stretched along one side for a considerable distance. Had we been a few minutes later arriving I would have been unable to get my wife into the centre because she struggles to walk a short distance with the aid of a walking frame.
Immediately over the road was a "No Parking" area, so this was no longer a solution. It makes one wonder if the plans made for this street were made by someone a little short of active brain cells. It stands to reason that a medical establishment is going to be frequented by disabled patients.
Brian Mitcherson, Flaxmere

Invisible people
I am glad that Dr Murray is disappointed with the reconstruction of Gascoigne St ... but I have some unfortunate news for him.
I live at the opposite end of Gascoigne St and have measured the width of the cycle lane on my side of the road heading west.
It starts off at 1.4m wide, increases to 1.7m, then down by Dr Murray's surgery it becomes 1.8m wide.
The only sane conclusion I could comprehend from this is that the invisible people cycling along the street are getting fatter ... and fatter.
I hope he is prepared for the influx of overweight cyclists who have taken over our town - but then if they are invisible, he hasn't got anything to worry about, right? I hope he has a cure for their affliction. Hmm? Withholding rates, not mowing council grass ...
Roger WrightHastingsTree looks so lonelyI was thinking how nice it would be if the council could put some coloured lights on the pine tree opposite the Crown Hotel in Nelson Quay.
It sits there all by itself and looks so lonely. Lights would be lovely.
Dida, Napier