Whanganui letters: Could humans become lonely inhabitants of this planet?

Are there fewer skylarks hovering and singing at Castlecliff?. Photo / Bevan Conley

Could humans become very lonely inhabitants of this wonderful planet?

An interesting article on Castlecliff (March 1).

There is however a sad situation in my favourite suburb - 1940s Castlecliff was a great place in which to live and play.

I remember it fondly as a dilapidated barefoot paradise. But many of the former residents have gone missing. I don't miss the sandflies but the moths, little lizards or skinks, frogs, locusts, dragonflies, cicadas, crickets, swarms of bees were quite common.

All of these creatures are either present in much lower numbers or very seldom seen.
Native birds like fantails and waxeyes were quite numerous.

And there were always skylarks hovering and singing above on warm sunny days.

The fishing was amazing. In early February flounder and sole could be speared in tidal pools.

All of the other species of fish were present in much higher numbers.

One must wonder where it will all end. Could humans become very lonely inhabitants of this wonderful planet. Or will we too go missing?

POTONGA NEILSON
Castlecliff

Reduce the number of traffic lights in our city

I support councillor Graeme Young for giving roading engineer Brent Holmes a nudge regarding the reduction of traffic lights in our city (Chronicle, February 27).

There is no better installation than roundabouts to provide traffic flow. With the fast-growing population in Whanganui we should be looking closely at this bottleneck traffic light problem. Vehicles waiting for a colour to suit them with no traffic in sight on the other sets of lights is frustrating.

Brent Holmes defends his traffic light policy stating they protect the vulnerable ie pedestrians, the elderly, children and mobility scooter users. Zebra crossings, as we have at each end of the Dublin St Bridge roundabouts, seem to work efficiently.

"Keep It Simple" is more often than not the correct solution.

MIKE O'DONNELL
Eastside

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