Commenting on the preliminary results of an online survey on the Tauranga Transport Plan, Rick Curach (chairman of Tauranga transport committee) said the results will be of limited value and that 'a proper survey would be a random phone survey and a proper democratic reflection of the community”.

I am really angry at these comments. If an online survey is not a ‘proper' survey, why do it in the first place? I filled the online survey in because I am really concerned about the fact that the people in charge seem to think that by widening the roads or building more roads, they will solve the traffic problems. Research has shown the opposite. It actually increases traffic on roads!

I have wasted my time and the council has wasted ratepayers' money. I know what to do in the future as whatever I write in an online survey is not considered as representative.

N Bührs, Bethlehem (Abridged).