Tussle over public input

NOW: The Archer St Cemetery, Masterton. Photo / LYNDA FERINGA WTA120913LFARCHER01

Masterton District Council's policy and finance committee voted to go ahead with plans to upgrade the Archer St cemetery entrance, within Queen Elizabeth Park, but said no to a formal public consultation and submission process.

However, chief executive Wes ten Hove stressed the council would welcome feedback, to be tabled at the next full council meeting this month.

The work will include new entrance signs, pillars which are the same design as elsewhere in the cemetery, and wing-walls at a cost of between $7000 and $8000.

At a Masterton District Council meeting earlier this week the majority of council voted against public consultation on the pillars and wing-walls, with only mayoral candidate Gary Caffell voting against non-consultation and Chris Peterson and Graham McClymont abstaining.

Mayoral candidate Lyn Patterson said she was happy with the plan, which she said dignified the entrance.

"If we are to ask every single person every time we want to lift a stone we will never be able to do anything.

"Let's just get on and get it done," Mrs Patterson said.

Councillor Jane Terpstra also wanted to push forward without formal consultation.

"I think we've got to go ahead with this. I don't think we've got to consult on every little detail. We're going to improve the entrance."

Chris Peterson disagreed and said he believed the public should have the opportunity to have their say before work commences.

"Given all the recent misunderstanding and misgiving I think it would be very diplomatic to have some sort of consultation.

"We should be making decisions with people, not for people, I think we should give the public some opportunity to have some comment."

Mr Ten Hove said feedback from the public would be taken into account.

"Any feedback is good," he said.

"We're inviting the public to make comment."

The Times-Age reopens letters to the editor on the matter.