Letters to Editor: Debt issue misleading says MP

Debt issue misleading says MP
I have been reading the various letters to the editor regarding the idea of amalgamation.
One of the main reasons put up by those against the idea is the issue of debt.
It's a fair question to ask but one which has involved a lot of scaremongering.
The opponents assume that debt would just be folded together and us Napier people would heroically share the Hastings liabilities.
These claims are ridiculous and I for one would not vote for any merged governance model that promoted this. One of the ways of achieving a fair outcome would be to ring-fence Hastings debt against Hastings ratepayers in any merged rating model going forward. As I've said on a number of occasions, I want to see a regional plan developed to take our province forward.
Napier City is a jewel in our province and initiatives such as continued development of the Marine Parade would be central to that plan.
I believe that some form of merged governance is necessary to properly implement a regional plan. Without it we will continue to be hamstrung by parochial politics.
Full amalgamation of all the councils is just one option to achieve this, but is at the extreme end of the possibilities.
A governance options paper needs to be developed which properly reflects the pros and cons of each option while importantly addressing the issue of debt.
Only then would we know what we're actually arguing about.
Any final vote on merged governance would be made by you as ratepayers through a referendum at local body elections. It would be your call, not mine.
Chris Tremain, MP for Napier
Changing lanes
I was a little perplexed to read Matthew Rodwell's comments (Hawke's Bay Today, August 2) in the article "Why our streets are shrinking".
If a reduction in road size means safety for cyclists and no need for a cycle lane, then why is there a need for cycle lanes in Gascoigne St when the road had already been narrowed several years ago?
I am also puzzled because now that cyclists have their own space as to why they persist in using footpaths, both children and adults.
If the aim is to make walking and cycling safer then I'm sorry Mr Rodwell, but from this pedestrian's experiences, this is not the case.
V Smith, Hastings