Passengers from the Summerhill and West Launceston area are no longer able to directly access the hospital for specialist appointments, scans and x-rays, or follow-up treatment at the many LGH clinics.

Since mid-December when the new timetables and routes became public, I have contacted Metro and the Department of State Growth, as well as a letter sent directly to Michael Ferguson some three weeks ago, all with no effect.

Apparently, the sick, elderly and disabled in this area are of no concern to anyone.

As David points out, this also applies to the relatives and friends wanting to visit patients in the hospital.

Irene Taylor, Summerhill.

HOW can Metro justify their website statement that "new routes will better serve the needs of local communities" when they have removed services from many routes, effectively isolating many citizens, in particular the young, elderly and disabled?

Sadly, Minister for Transport Michael Ferguson remains silent. As does Janie Finlay, evidently a candidate for Rosevears in May, and services to this electorate have been axed. Please speak up and have this ridiculous decision reversed.

Carol Hill, South Launceston.

THE hurdles to development in Launceston are enormous.

For those that suggest I am wrong then I suggest that they just not argue with me, but they go out and have a go themselves.

Worthy as they may be, those planning obstacles, heritage issues, and disabled access requirements all sit alongside the building code of Australia.

We live in a competitive world, and to bring all these elements together in a commercial sense is no easy task.

It is no wonder that informed and capable people decide to move to a "greener paddock" to spend their dollars thereby creating opportunity and employment for others.

Yes, you still have to abide by all of the above, but sometimes you just get sick and tired of fighting Launceston's barriers to development.

Richard Forrest, Launceston.

THERE was a letter (The Examiner, February 29) pointing out that those against the proposal at Halls Island should put their money where their mouths are, I thought it was a fantastic idea.

I have submitted a letter to the appropriate minister to open up a discussion on a counter offer to lease the island.

I await the response keenly and will write in again when I hear the answer.

Zane Robnik, Lilydale.

I'M so shocked by the amount of comments supporting the current clearfelling of the ancient takanya temperate rainforests as a means for reducing fire fuel.

The Australian landscape has been shaped by fire so perhaps it's time to introduce fire ecology into school curriculums. Ancient rainforest rarely burns and the species within said forest are fire sensitive and not dependant on fire for regeneration.

Following the destruction of rainforest the forest succession science shows that the forest will go through a very long period of being a drier forest type and therefore much more prone to fire. It will take hundreds of years to regenerate to rainforest - if ever.

Back burning will assist fuel reduction but clear felling will only exacerbate the issue from both a climate and ecological perspective.

Jessica Rettig, Howden.

THE brief for the Royal Commission should include an investigation into Scott Morrison's refusal to meet the fire chiefs six months before the bushfires started.

Perhaps the fires would have been better managed with an informed government that acted on advice.

Horst Schroeder, Devonport.

I AM writing to say thank you to the organisers, volunteers and performers at the Fair Dinkum Fire Appeal in Riverside. My family and I had the pleasure of witnessing a beautiful group of children performing and also working as volunteers to raise funds for the fire appeal.

They represented themselves well and added a joyous touch to a fantastic evening.

Karen Skewes, Blackstone Heights.

I APPLAUD the initiative of Stefan Dvorsky who sent a truckload of goods at his own cost, to the fire victims in New South Wales. They found many people who up to that point had not been given any relief and were so grateful for the donations.

Stefan will be sending two more truckloads in coming weeks so needs more goods to send. People need good condition household goods, for example bedding, kitchen goods, toys, non perishable food, toiletries. Anything that might be useful and needed. Clothes and books are not necessary.

If you would like to donate the address is 9 Emcee Drive, St Leonards. Phone: 0400 968 155.

Wendy Burbury, Newstead.