The Tauranga City Council's proposal to use local parklands to establish a supermarket in Welcome Bay raises serious concerns. We are not opposed to the provision of the supermarket to serve this area. However, the use of open spaces, which are already well-equipped and used by sports bodies and for individual leisure pursuits alike is a separate issue. The increased traffic created by the supermarket would present a hazard to those families involved in sporting activities on the park, reducing their freedom of movement.

Are there no alternative locations without impacting the open spaces currently providing for the needs of the community?

As ratepayers we need to voice our objection to the commercial use of parklands. R and

R Thomas, Welcome Bay.