Gardens charge

I am offended that the majority vote of our present council and mayor are planning to charge visitors for a tour to the most wonderful asset in Hamilton which has drawn many to our city. The financial spinoff to the local economy has been enormous.

My recently deceased husband, David Bowden, built many of the structures within these gardens, working alongside other generously minded small business contractors who probably also worked at a reduced rate. Because of the uniqueness of our facility, even by worldwide standards, David was passionate to give something lasting and attractive to our city. He did not work at this cheaper rate for the present council to exploit his and others’ good will.

Because of the poor management and vision within the HCC CEO office, the actual state of the books was withheld, it appears, from our last mayor’s knowledge. I do not accept this proposed revenue gathering should be included using our wonderful garden asset, which is still growing with thanks to the garden director’s vision.

Why is it that the ratepayers and generous benefactors to our city are exploited by some local city bureaucrats who, in my opinion, give inferior service to their office? Their greediness to extract even more from Hamilton is an insult to our ratepayers and generous benefactors like my husband and his dear colleagues over the years.

E Lynne Bowden

Hamilton