Once again I read of another shop closing, following the path of so many others, some that were local institutions having opened their doors for generations.

Even beautifying the malls has had little effect to stem the number of businesses lost.

This council has repeatedly turned its back on this issue, saying its hands are clean, but surely the overpriced parking costs, lack of public facilities and ignorance shown to the business owners and the Chamber of Commerce have dealt a death knell to a once thriving CBD.

People are staying away in droves, how long can this council’s arrogance be allowed to destroy our city’s jewel?

They say that the university’s move to Inveresk will revitalise the heart of Launceston, I’m not a pessimistic person, but I think not, and I sincerely hope that I’m wrong.

A fresh, open-minded, affordable approach is needed to entice new, enthusiastic businesses back, so there is a greater assortment of shops, then customers can have freedom of choice and enjoy their experience.

If nothing can be achieved soon, people will flock to the suburbs, where parking is free and accessibility easy.

I CAN tell you why business has declined in the city centre.

It is because most of it has been sterilised and made ultra hygienic, and become soulless especially the Quadrant and the Brisbane street malls.

Please, please do not do the same to The Avenue or George Street, they are wonderful as they are.

CONGRATULATIONS on the Civic Square, on any given day it is a cheerful, interactive space with the garden beds, trees and sculptures providing a delightful background.  

The mall, on the other hand, is missing a certain something.  

Maybe to alleviate the sterile look and accentuate the hostility of the vicious looking tigers a few abandoned car bodies and some old tyres could be scattered about and we would then have an interactive Mad Max scene.

SO it’s finally happened, China has started to punish Australia and New Zealand for opposing its annexation of waters in the South-China Sea or is Australia’s case more to do with terminating the visa of its pseudo-spy come bribes bagman?

Either way, disallowing our coal shipments to enter Chinese ports just shows how easy it is for China to hurt Australia.

The cutting of tourism to NZ is their punishment and the same punishment is strangling one of the small Pacific nations that oppose the South-China Sea move.

We have become too dependent on a single entity and we need to broaden our export base or China will shut us down.

No exports no government revenue, then what happens to all the mooted election promises?

IF Tasmania is to protect its high country from wildfire, common sense needs to prevail. To lock up our wilderness to save it is just not working.

Instances of red tape blocking access for early fire control attempts of remote wilderness fires need to be investigated.

As members of the Tasmanian Mountain Cattlemen's Association committee, we fully support the proposed independent inquiry into this summer’s devastating bushfires. Prevention is better than cure.

No management is bad management, so one of the main issues that needs to be discussed is the protection of our high country and pristine wilderness from future destruction.

Access, fire-breaks and controlled fuel reduction should be on an alert and act level as the proximity of the fire season of next summer will come round very quickly.

Primetime for fuel reduction is September - only six months away.

I respond to the article and the statement by the secretary of the above organisation (The Examiner, February 21).

Firstly I am an independent retiree and have never heard of the organisation so who appoints these people as my spokesman?

Also the council of the ageing, as a beneficiary of the tax refund, I realise that I have benefited from something that maybe I shouldn't get, but it is grandfathered so it only affects future investors.

I APPLAUD Tony Newport’s letter (The Examiner, February 23). To all those one-eyed Liberal supporters and to all those who’ve forgotten who did what and when in federal politics it’s a timely reminder.

He could also have added that Wayne Swan, hailed internationally as the best treasurer for his approach to the GFC was followed, following Labor’s loss, by arguably one of the worst in Joe Hockey.

However, as a swinging voter, looking at the current quality of talent on both sides of federal politics, I think I may well be tossing the proverbial coin at the polling booth as I try to work out which side is the lesser of two evils. I used to say that I voted for who I thought was going to be best for our state. Now I vote for who I think will do the least damage.