The CBD has many enticements. Examples include; the City Art Gallery, the transit bus terminal which brings people in from ALL suburbs, the free bus on Saturday campaign at the end of 2010, boardwalks, fountains and extensive café frontages on Wharf Street, all upgraded and maintained at the council's expense. And there are a denser proportion of office workers.
According to some of your contributors, installing meters in the village shopping areas of Mount Maunganui and Greerton would create a level playing field for the city retailer. How myopic.
All retailers are suffering at this time. It may be comforting to see the greener grass on the other side of the fence, but there are advantages and disadvantages in every area.
I consider that parking meters in the smaller council-owned business areas would cost more to manage than could be earned. If installed, village retailers would then be disadvantaged by a lack of assets and enticements the CBD currently enjoys.
Cherie Luxton, Papamoa.