Naive councillors damage city’s economy

The naive earnestness of leftleaning councillors like Tamatha Paul, Fleur Fitzsimons and a few others is damaging Wellington’s economic potential. Stopping development of the airport will deny Wellington more international visitors, tourist and business alike, while not reducing carbon use at all; as visitors will have to fly shorthaul from Auckland, which is worse. Many former business head offices were moved because we don’t have a proper international service.

Making the central city carless will dramatically reduce night-time activity in the city, as many suburban and regional bus services end in the early evening. And what happens when there is a bus strike like this coming week – how will workers get to work? Most of the people who work and visit the city come from outside the CBD. If these councillors want to remove cars, ensure public transport is improved first, and think about the needs of the disabled and elderly.

Tim Skinner, Te Marua