Theme parks versus rural reality

It seems, from a reading of the lead item on last Monday’s front page of The Press (‘‘Council plans irk livestock farmers’’) that there are people who say that they want a rural living, which is, in fact, a lie. They want a theme park, except instead of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, etc, they want sheep, cattle, rolling hills of green grass and so on, all meekly behaving themselves to the bidding of the current complainers.

Well, if that is what they want, they should pay for it: Go to the farmers, cheque book in hand, and ask them how much it would cost for them not to farm, but to run a theme park.

To a person, unfortunately but predictably, the complainers will refuse. They still want the theme park, but they want someone else to pay for it. They want someone else (in this case the local council) to do their dirty work – stop someone else earning an honest living. The council should point out to these people that the solution is in their own hands – buy the farms that are annoying them and put on managers who can be told not to be annoying.

Rural living is a package deal. It comes with the pleasant spaces and views to enjoy, but also with the unpleasant slush and smells to loath. Well, that’s life. If you don’t like what is going on in the countryside, leave it and buy into a theme park; there may be one that is also a gated community. You may find that ideal.

Richard Sedcole

Rangiora RD1