Bill Dalton

Last week I commented on this radio station and posted to my blog that developing a footpath policy is a difficult process. It is not only Napier that is grappling with this contentious issue – in fact most cities in the country are trying to work out a compromise that suits as many people as possible.

It has always been my belief that when a contentious matter arises, the best way to remedy the situation is to have an exchange of intelligent and informed dialogue take place. To that end the Napier City Council has written to businesses in the CBD on a regular basis and kept them informed.
 
Of great interest to me is the fact that not one single retailer has contacted me to discuss the matter of signs. Not one.

I have had anonymous mail arrive at my home – have been, along with the Mayor and my fellow councillors, abused by text messages in the local paper, all pretty juvenile stuff. 

And now someone who signs himself as Ben Hall has posted to my blog telling me, and I quote “you sir are a dork in the highest manner with no understanding for small businesses and common sense.”

Well I’ve got news for Mr Hall. I have been involved in the running of a small business in this city for almost 30 years – I wonder what experience he uses to form his views.

The fact is I am one of just 12 councillors in the fair city of Napier. I work in the CBD, my number is in the phone book, my cell phone number is on my answer machine and yet not one affected person has even bothered to come and see me or ring me to discuss the street signs.

Don’t you think that such an approach was more likely to produce results then vitriolic text messages to the paper.

And speaking of those text messages, I think it is absolutely appalling that the HB Today Newspaper prints that rubbish without requiring the writer to identify themselves. Writers of letters to the editor are required to sign their names – why not writers of text messages.

Oh and one more thing. Whilst it is proposed that the fees for signs will go up over the next couple of years, councils are required to review their fees annually so nothing is set in concrete.

Perhaps intelligent dialogue might encourage councillors to change their mind.  Who knows?

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1. Council wards debate again
2. Silly season underway
3. Let’s get back to thinking for ourselves