At the Tauranga City Council meeting, held March 17, the proposal to lease the building in Salisbury Ave, previously occupied by Tourism Bay of Plenty as an I-site, to Own Firm Ltd as a ‘boutique cakery' was approved.

With the new council's aim for openness, they immediately went into committee to discuss the proposal.

Hopefully the discussion covered:

1. The need for on-site parking as required by other eateries. On-road parking is at a premium in this vicinity with taxi rank and bus bay.

2. Its establishment in a predominantly residential area (apartments opposite), has potential for early morning noise from a bakery. It will be the only commercial operation in Salisbury Ave.

3. 'Provide a benefit to park users” was a criteria to be met – yeah right, what park users? Event participants? How many use the park in winter months?

4. 'Outdoor area where customers can sit watching kids play in the park,” was one councillor's comment. Hopefully well away from the public toilets within such close proximity.

Perhaps 'benefit to park users” was the criteria for the Council CEO to approve the lease under the Reserves Act, on behalf of the Minister for Conservation?

Surely more benefit would accrue for the Mount for a tourist-type activity, independent of Tourism BOP, that I understand was a proposal lodged.

Les Cresswell, Mount Maunganui.