Katikati, and points north, have been short changed by our politicians. Smartgrowth (now often called dumb growth) is promoting Tauranga and Tauriko and not, in my opinion, our neglected area.

Priority One and our local councillors need to respond urgently. Roading development towards Rangiuru, for political reasons, has attracted huge funding. In my opinion, this huge new road project carries less traffic than the 50-year-old roads north through Katikati, almost nose to tail some days, and increasing daily.

Local councillors and parliamentarians have let us down. Recent controversial expenditure on safety measures has done little to help traffic flow. Traffic through Katikati is now catastrophic (Simon Bridges take note) and building at around 10 per cent annually and the clowns that did away with more than 20 car parks in front of the Memorial Hall are cursed by locals and business people alike,and must be regretting their silly decision.

You can no longer stop easily and do business in town and if you think it will get better you are dreaming.

Our local body and central government politicians have failed us. We must vote next election for more wisdom and vision.

Long standing resident Alan Williams from Thompsons Track remembers years ago a contingent of local dignitaries and an MP inspecting Thompsons Track as an alternative link to the Waikato, but it stalled because of parochialism in some quarters.

Anticipated 10 per cent annual increase will soon make traffic movement in our area intolerable . Ordinary sensible kiwis know the answer, so surely the professionals can see it. If unresponsive, we must replace them. Political expression is the only thing that will change things.

N Mayo, Tauranga