Grubby footpaths

Michael Kessell’s letter of last week ( Advertiser, May 25) re upgrading our town centre footpaths, hits the nail on the head.

Powers that be say we can’t improve the footpaths until the bypass is built. Our footpaths are disgusting, grubby and almost Third World. They could be repaved next week at least to the existing kerb, followed by a second stage including a pedestrian friendly, Enviro streetscape, completed when the bypass is complete.

We need to get on now and at the very least, start the discussion, planning and consultation. There is no point waiting for the bypass, which could be shelved after the election . . . Tirau on SH1 rebuilt theirs years ago, with a much busier traffic situation than ours.

What are we waiting for? Get on with it. ELLIETHOMAS Katikati