Night moves

May I suggest the residents opposing the nightmarket within Dress-Smart’s boundaries ( Central Leader, Jan 18) contact the Onehunga Business Association and ask whether they intend to poll retailers on this issue.

A similar poll was conducted at Otahuhu by their association over their markets. Why not here?

The Onehunga Business Association opposed The Warehouse development at Royal Oak yet is silent over a development within its own confines.

The manager of Dress-Smart happens to be a sitting member of their executive and the night market does not fall within their original stated business purpose as an outlet mall (when the council granted consent to build).

As one of Onehunga’s leading retailers it concerns me we pay local rates to an ‘‘association’’ that subsidises a bus to Dress-Smart that gives us no benefit whatsoever. Now we have a night market we find out about in a newspaper.

Already Onehunga’s main street is bereft of real investment and looks little better than a service lane that reflects very poorly on the suburb’s image.

A night market will contribute to the decline.

The Onehunga Business Association cares very little about this situation and if anyone dares to speak out they face immediate expulsion. We are powerless to act. It is heartening the town’s residents are voicing concerns others do not have the courage to confront.