All Coles has to do is replace the plastic bags with firm paper bags as they use to do before the emergence of plastic bags.

I am still against the amount of plastic wrapping generated in the meat department of supermarkets. 

They need to go back to shoppers requesting meat and wrapping in paper just like any butcher’s shop.

There is too much plastic wrapping in supermarkets and it should go.

Walter Christy, Shearwater.

THE height indicators on the front page of The Examiner (July 31) does not allow for comparisons with other buildings such as the post office tower, Myer, and the new hotel proposal adjacent to the Albert Hall.

Maybe any decisions on this should be left until after the council elections in October, especially considering the clock tower was once designed to be visible from all points of the compass.

We do not want it to be obscured any more than it already is at present.

Oh and regarding the elections, it’s said that a new broom sweeps clean.

Ron Baines, Kings Meadows.

I WOULD like to express my feelings about Centrelink.

There has been a lot of comments made over all forums and everyone is saying the same thing.  

Centrelink is not working. In my opinion it needs a complete overhaul. 

It is pretty sad when people my age (60-plus) say they feel that the government would prefer to make them work until we die, then they don’t have to pay us. 

A bit of respect and commonsense and compassion would not go astray.  

Fix this, please.

D. Wade, Prospect. 

I KNOW it’s a waste of my energy even writing this, but I just wanted to let all the people out there who litter our road (Bridgenorth Road) know how depressing it is walking my dog these days, due to you all using our road as a tip.  

I remember when I liked living here and going for strolls along what used to be a lovely country road.  

But now I dread it every day.  

While walking about 800 metres on August 1, I counted 134 pieces of rubbish.  

I used to take a bag and pick it up, but it has become too much effort, as I am an artist, not a garbage collector.

I hate to imagine the state of your homes if this is what you do with your rubbish.

Lynne Hutchins, Legana.

UPON reading Trevo Benet’s letter about his Melbourne getaway (The Examiner, August 2) I am quite intrigued. 

Wondering how it is possible to ride the Devil Cat, unless time travel is involved. 

The Devil Cat has not operated Bass Strait since 2002, which is 16 years ago. 

Possibly Trevo has consumed too many Krispy Kremes?

Lorraine  Blaubaum, Evandale.

THE draft report on building heights is a step in the right direction.

Many cities have such restrictions, which usually apply to their cultural or historical precincts or a main avenue or boulevard. 

However in commercial areas the restriction is one of available land.

In Launceston’s case the realistic maximum size of the central business district is limited by the rivers on one side, Margaret Street and West Launceston, then probably Howick and Lawrence streets, High to York streets, then St John to Frankland streets.

Our main cultural axis is Paterson Street with parks and art-related sites at either end. 

The rest of this area has two important squares, City Park and the park at the Launceston General Hospital. 

Commercial and small pockets of houses occupy the rest. Finally, much of St John Street is important from an architectural and history point of view.

At present our tallest buildings are in the 22-25 metre range.

The main question in the debate is, will the proposed precinct heights help or hinder the future commercial development of the city?  

In the proposed areas, land will be in short supply in future, but only if business activity and its very valuable off-shoot of jobs happens. 

Thirty-four metres is really just easing the restriction a little in one area, and a bigger lift in others. 

When the university gets moving with the same drive as it does in Hobart, the CBD will surely expect some pressure for hotel construction.

Our entrepreneurs can only do so much, we will need interstate or international interest and heights are important.

There is another difference in running costs from time taken for housekeeping, distances staff and guests walk to services; ease of access for maintenance etc. 

Many things must affect decisions, only experts can tell non-imformed people such as me.

It may be that the heights suggested are good, it may be that they need to be much higher, only our own entrepreneurs could give us an idea along with the input from interstate and international experiences.

If 60 or so metres is the figure suggested, then the council should be prepared to accept and act upon that recommendation.

What is not wanted are subjective comments such as monstrosities and destroying our lifestyle.

We are not a big city but we do not want to slowly become less relevant.

Bruce Douglas, Launceston.