Learn from overseas

My main reason for leaving London to settle in this wonderful country was the appalling housing situation that existed there at that time.

Huge and ugly high-rise blocks of flats were being flung up all over the place, and suffocating Greater London in particular.

The first residents thought these flats were marvellous, well located, affordable, clean and new, with all mod cons.

But they soon found they were too small and poky; maybe there was a tiny balcony but no gardens and nowhere for kids to play. Mums couldn’t get their prams into the lifts, which were broken half the time anyway. The poorly lit stairs soon became dirty, smelly and dangerous, with dodgy characters hanging about day and night.

Badly overcrowded, tension and violence made these no place for families, although accommodating families was initially a prime objective.

Now you report that Wellington City Council may dispense with building height controls in our lovely city, to allow tower blocks of flats, which they deceptively call ‘‘apartments’’.

Can we not learn from the mistakes of others? Four years ago the 24-storey Grenfell tower block burned to the ground, with 72 deaths. Four weeks ago a 19-storey tower block in east London was in flames, with multiple casualties.

Does this council really believe it can do any better? It is not qualified to make this decision. Clearing the way for highrise flats in Wellington is inviting disaster and misery.

Any suggestions on how we can stop this before the damage is done?

Mike Malone, Raumati Beach [abridged]