Reader not impressed by letter

LETTERS

It is something to think on that a leading businessman in this country can stoop to taking a swipe (via Have a Say) at our locally duly elected Districts’ Mayor in the manner that he did. One would hope, that a businessman who obviously has considerable financial and business acumen (clout) could find some other way of trying to enlist the local populations’ support for the company (he leads), to establish a branch of their business in this town.

I’m sure that the majority of locals will take advantage of any reductions in fuel prices that may occur from the possible competition brought about by having another fuel retailer in a very prominent position.

I am also sure that again the majority of the locals will see that the leading reason that Gull is investing here has only one main aim, that is, to increase company profits. In short they are after your money, which you can be certain wont stay local.

I have always believed that the best way that local district councils can use the rates (their operating revenue) that they garner from local property owners and residents is to use those earnings for the betterment of the district they govern. We as residents have the cure in our own hands, if that, obviously, is not

being done. John C Simcock,

Tokoroa

When this comes into operation who is going to keep it clean and tidy as other service stations do? There is no mention of Gull employing somebody. If this is not done it will be left to the council and ultimately the ratepayer to foot the bill. Can Gull New Zealand explain the point of demolishing one eyesore to replace it with another one?

H Lodge, Tokoroa. RESPONSE, Dave Bodger (Abridged): All Gull Drive Thru (unmanned) outlets including our site to be built in Tokoroa are serviced daily, whether the person who does that is from Tokoroa or not is yet to be determined. It will be in the best method for Gull so we can reduce our costs and save the motorist as much as possible. The ratepayer will not be required to clean our site any more than they would a cafe, a car yard or another service station. This detail was well covered in discussion with the council. In addition to daily servicing, for the first 6 weeks of opening, we will have a Gull Ambassador on site during the day to assist customers with working the payment terminals. It is highly likely that this job will be filled by Tokoroa residents.

At Gull Tokoroa we will sell three grades of fuel. Gull Regular (91 octane petrol) Gull Force 10 (98 octane petrol) and Gull Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel.

Gull Regular meets the exact same product quality requirements (set by government) as all regular grade petrol sold in New Zealand. These regulations are set to ensure the motorist gets an even grade of fuel and that the fuel is a good fit for the engines in use across the country.

Both Gull Regular and Diesel provide very similar performance to any other fuel meeting the same criteria sold by any other brand in New Zealand.