Mayor inconsistent

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester is inconsistent when he says he is unwilling to comment on the Court of Appeal’s rejection of his plans for Shelly Bay (Question mark over Shelly Bay, Dec 4).

He does not hesitate to comment when the council wins. For instance, he greeted the nowoverturned High Court decision by saying, ‘‘This is an excellent result. This project aims to transform Shelly Bay for the better and it has my wholehearted support. It’s an endorsement of the city council’s planning processes for Shelly Bay’’.

Similarly, in the Frank Kitts Park decision, he gloated when the council won the original decision. The appellants, Waterfront Watch, are perfectly worthy citizens (surely akin to the successful Shelly Bay appellants) and they deserved more respect than this.

It is a shame when the mayor puts his personal feelings ahead of those of his citizens. It is an unfortunate characteristic of his mayoralty.

Michael Gibson, Northland