I have issues with council conducting a trial requiring a reduction in the number of parking spaces in the CBD "to help cafes and restaurants meet the need for more outdoor dining areas" ("Parklets trial", 23/5).
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Council will conduct a two year trial of parklets in the Port Macquarie town centre.
This will require sacrificing some current parking spaces for the the questionable benefit of a few cafes and restaurants to provide more outdoor dining areas.
Who said we need more outdoor dining areas?
We need more parking spaces, not more outdoor dining areas. Perhaps Cr Geoff Hawkins and Cr Lee Dixon, supporters of this dumb idea, have not noticed that Port Macquarie is full.
Parking spaces must not be given up for any reason.
I note that Cr Hawkins' image on the front page of Wednesday's edition of the Port News (23/5), has been taken in William Street outside the Mantra Observatory Hotel adjacent to Town Beach.
Is this a message that the 'Parklets Trial', may not be confined just to the CBD as reported, or could this trial extend to other locations?
I also note that Mayor, Peta Pinson, to her credit, has expressed concerns about the loss of car parking spaces to conduct this trial.
This doesn't reflect favourably on those councillors who voted for the trial.
Colin Eldridge, Port Macquarie
