In June 2016 there was an article on SunLive (‘Parking rules for some', June 17) about Tauranga City Council vehicles parking on The Strand Extension in metered places without paying, and also parking on the other side of the road for lengthy spells in loading zones. Part of the problem was the paying public were being denied parking spaces.

I know that CEO Gary Poole took fairly quick action to stop his staff hogging those public parks and also to stop criticism of his staff abusing the council by-law which permitted such parking providing they were on ‘official business'.

Mr Poole arranged for an extremely large area of the eastern end of The Strand reclamation to be set aside for exclusive council parking to stop the obvious abuse of the by-law and to free up the metered public parking spaces for public use.

A week ago I had cause to be in Tauranga and the only nearby vacant parking place I found was at the end of The Strand Extension.

I was not really surprised to see six council vehicles parked on the road. Three on metered spaces, none with a pay and display ticket visible.

Three in 15-minute loading zones. I returned about 20-25 minutes later and none of the six vehicles had moved.

I wonder for how long council staff have relapsed their parking
habits.

P Harlen, Mount Maunganui.