Beige Brigade writes a letter to the editor
Ed wrote in to the Dominion Post last week with a disgraceful plan to transform the Basin Reserve into concrete - and we felt it was our duty to respond. His letter is below, as is our response….
Surely now is time to rethink the value to Wellington of the Basin Reserve. Imagine if this largely useless traffic island were redeveloped with unimpeded traffic routes both north- south and east-west. Add in a well designed park not hidden behind a fence, a hotel-conference facility and/or high-rise residential developments, pedestrian and cycle access and some public transport options. Cricket purists would be horrified, but why don’t we concentrate the city’s premier sporting facilities at the excellent Westpac Stadium, which could easily absorb cricket? Think of the benefits: dramatically better traffic flows leveraging off the new bypass; more rates for Wellington City Council; better visual appeal; an ideal location for more inner-city residential and hotel-conference facilities — and the whole thing could be done with minimal disruption to traffic. Such a project would leverage off the city’s existing infrastructure investments for the benefit of all.
ED FORSMAN, Venture Dynamics Ltd
And our response:
Give em hell!!!
Comment by Woman Slaya — April 17, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
amen to that! now we just need to get the boxing day test back, and encourage NZC and the ICC to schedule some meaningful test series of at least 3 matches here!
Comment by mikeinamsterdam — April 17, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Good call, we will begin to lobby the new CEO on the Boxing Day test match.
Comment by Snedz — April 18, 2007 @ 8:43 am
You guys have lost the plot! The Basin is just a sad little patch of grass that could easily be used for better means. It’s high time Wellington has a centrally located mall along the lines of Botany Downs in Auckland.
Personally, I find there’s no better forum for the joys of Test cricket than a concrete jungle like Westpac Stadium, Jade Stadium and Eden Park. It’s only at these dual purpose grounds that you can really soak up the nuances of five-day cricket.
For that reason grounds like Seddon Park, the Basin, Pukekura Park and Queenstown are just hogging valuable real estate.
I can’t think of anything worse than lying on a grass bank in full view of the sun, sipping on a slightly watery beer, munching on a deep-fried delight and talking complete bollocks with my mates while my favourite cricketers are parading their skills up close at personal.
No way, I’d rather be sitting in a hard-shelled bucket seat, numbing my rump, in an empty shell of a rugby ground while tnrying to identify which player is which through my field glasses.
Remember, Steve Waugh said the Basin was one of his least favourite grounds and that should be enough to have it scrapped alone.
Comment by ReverseCut — April 18, 2007 @ 9:05 am
Thank you ReverseCut (should there be an ‘n’ as the 2nd to last letter of your name?). Feel free to pass your comments on to Mr Forsman directly at: Ed Forsman , c/- 144 Eskdale Rd, Papakowhai, Porirua.
Comment by Pearl — April 18, 2007 @ 1:26 pm