Get all cars out of the Wharf St restaurant belt. 'Go the whole hog,” suggests Tauranga MP Simon Bridges.

And while we're at, let's get cars off The Strand between the roundabout at the bottom of Devonport Rd and Harington St. 'There's not much to be lost doing that,” says the straight-talking MP.

Getting rid of cars on The Strand 'wouldn't do anyone any harm,” says MP Simon Bridges. Photo: Tracy Hardy

But he understands people might not buy into the idea. 'I think, inevitably, there's a fair degree of conservatism about these things; people understandably worry about the unknowns like the loss of parking and the loss of a thoroughfare.”

But, Simon says, getting rid of cars from these two streets 'wouldn't do anyone any harm”.

The MP says the revitalisation of the CBD is a priority for everyone. But while a few things are going well like the arrival of 400-plus TrustPower workers and, over time, the arrival of a tertiary campus, there are a few practical things that could be done too.

'A lot of people don't think the semi-carless Wharf St is working particularly well.” He likes what's been done with the rustic street furniture and branding. 'But it's half-hearted, it's neither fish nor fowl – and I think we should have gotten rid of car completely.”

'And for a long time I've thought the same is true for The Strand.

Simon believes making both precincts carless would 'over time work a treat”.

'Given that nearly all the retail on The Strand is hospitality, to me it's the next logical step.” He's believes the parking on the seaward side of the railway should be retained. 'People want and need good carparking in and around the CBD so it would be unrealistic to get rid of that.”

People also raise the issue of moving the railway line. 'But that would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. And while never say never, it's not going to happen in the short-term.”

But shutting out cars would be relatively easy, he believes. 'All it would take was a few strokes of a pen. It's a bit like Hairy Maclary. We would worry until it happens. And when it does happen, there's no turning back.”

And he'd be very interested to hear what other people think of the idea. 'I will certainly be taking it up with Tauranga City councillors when I meet with them next time.”