The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Below you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.
TODAY'S LETTERS:
Let's keep our streets clean, too
We are so careful to keep our rivers and sea clean, and we are so careful to not pollute the air. But when it comes to the main street of our city it seems we can fill it with smut and call it a parade.
The Boobs on Bikes Parade is inappropriate to be held up the main street of our town as this is a public place for everyone to enjoy.
Our city is a mixed-use centre with people using the art galleries, library, shopping or enjoying a cafe. These are used by people of all ages and families.
So it's clearly inappropriate to hold such an event in a public place.
We shouldn't have to look the other way in a public place, as some have suggested this as the answer to the situation. The people and businesses of Tauranga want to maintain its clean and green image, [it] has a huge family and elderly population.
Stop trying to pollute our city streets, with what is is merely a cover-up for a perve show. Do you think anyone standing on the sidewalks observing the parade will be interested in the bikes?
We need to consider the children, young people and elderly who use this centre.
This is not a red light district or Kings Cross. It's Tauranga, clean and green and family-focused.
Terry Koumakis, Bethlehem
Front page news
The article on the high achievements of Gabe Young (News, July 12), former student of Te Puke High School, was a fine tribute to the successes of a hard-working, capable and deserving young man. Surely, though, this article should have been front page news. A local man in a competitive world market is worthy of better exposure.
Margaret McGarva, Te Puke
Arterial links
Back in the 1970s I first heard about plans to build a tunnel under the present Hairini roundabout as part of the main arterial routes through Tauranga. This was to link Tauranga and places west with places east and the reverse.
Never was it proposed to be an arterial route that went most of the way across Tauranga and then branched off into a suburb - Welcome Bay - but this seems to be the proposition being discussed these days.
It seems logical for the future of transport in Tauranga to have arterial links to the new Tauranga Eastern Link from the Harbour Bridge and Turret Rd and have suburban requirements link into this system and not the other way around. These arterial links should have the minimum of obstructions such as roundabouts and traffic lights to enable a smooth flow of traffic into, out of and through Tauranga.
John McDonald, Te Puke
Text views
* Gosh some of our councillors are still active by opposing the boobs on bikes parade a pity though that they are not as active doing things to benefit the city.
* Bril ltr shirley!Right with u on no bike parade.
* One day the Mayor states that the boobs on bikes parade required a permit & the next day we r informed that NO permit is needed. What planet is Mayor Crosby on?
* I believe we should be aloud to do what makes us feel comfortable and happy. Even if its in front of the public eye (legally of course). I don't see there being anything wrong with ladies parading there boobs in front of a group of male and female adults. Those that would say that its disgraceful and sad are afraid themselves to relax from the realities of life once and awhile. Danny H. Mt maunganui.
* Mount speeds letter, s paterson arataki. Cheap shot at sports/cyclists folk.
* Havnt seen cr grainger'protesting with banners or something else' at the new preposal for w/bay round about, wake up bill.
* Why put up retirement age? why not get the useless hoodie, wear the cap back to front, get up at lunch time people and make them work for a change. Ar.
* So glad 2 read Hairy Maclary sculptures goin ahead. Bout tym Tga did sumthing positiv and fun. We way bhind otha NZ towns. WAKE UP TGA !
* more diversion is sensible
* We live on belk rd and it is very dangerous turnin on2 29. My teenage kids use it each day. How many lives wil it take? So what can be done about it? Nervous mum.
* Crash black spots. It just shows like ive said before our roading is one of the worst in the world and they blame drivers.
* If we had some serious competesion in super markets you will see prices reduce fast but all super markets like price fixing and fleasing us.
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