The city centre is littered with empty shops. You can put a portion of this down to the harsh economic times that we are in, but you can also blame the lack of cohesion amongst the city councillors.
They spent three years bickering amongst each other; meanwhile the city centre is dying. The newly elected councillors should prioritise the revitalisation of this city centre.
How they can do this:
Let restaurants have see through pull down awnings to encourage diners to sit outside in the colder weather.
Remove the public seating and create a covered walkway. Don't punish diners with a $40 parking ticket for parking after 10pm at The Strand Reclamation parking. People don't always eat at 5.30pm.
Other towns like Taupo and Rotorua employ Events Managers to find ways to bring people into their town and minimise red tape.
I implore any councillor who reads this letter, to wander down The Strand and talk to the publicans and restaurant owners, to gain an insight into how badly this city centre needs attention from those in power to do something.
John Harvey, Amphora, The Strand.