The recent uproar in local media over the Tauranga City Council's failure to properly address the disaster warning issues shows that the universal criticism is completely justified. The petition currently circulating is a good initiative but in the end it will have no effect on TCC, which will go their own sweet way, no matter what. The attitude of councillors and their views - or lack of – is unbelievable and the council staff who previously came up with the electronic siren plan more than three years ago – which was a flop – also defies belief. Nothing has changed so don't waste energy and time on these bozos it is an exercise in futility. The only way to resolve the issue is for Mount and Papamoa citizens to ignore council, obtain community funding of about $250,000 and then install 12 British air raid-style sirens on private land along the Mount and Papamoa East coastline. First up of course get a quote for equipment and installation and establish locations. Nothing else will work as well as this approach. Form an association preferably an incorporated society and get on with it, as it only involves input, the cost will be minimal and guess what – voila we will have a practical cost effective warning system!

S Paterson, Arataki.