Whatever got into our elected representatives and their overpaid minions in TCC to desecrate the centre of our village (The Mount) by removing most of the old majestic phoenix palms and the central car parking area? They are replacing these with a much unneeded park. This is an adult village and there are very good parks at both ends of the old commercial area and very accessible beaches down both sides. All this work at not inconsiderable expense to the ratepayers! Will these council idiots ever stop frittering away ratepayers' hard-earned funds?

A Gawith, Mount Maunganui.