At the moment the riders are still zooming through when there are signs indicating to dismount.

This is totally ignored and they come up behind you and ring their bells, when a polite excuse me would be far better.

They alienate themselves by their behaviour.

As the summer comes on when more people are out and about, with young children, something’s got to give.

I think it will be the bikes.

This is no place for bikes when a lane on the road could be far better, keeping them under control and following set rules where they have to abide by, or face the consequences.

Keep the Blue Mile for pedestrian traffic and this will be far more relaxing and safe .

T Dunn, West Wollongong

I feel obliged to respond to Andrew Humphries’ letter (Illawarra Mercury, October 7, 2016) headed “Freedom of Speech,” in which he was critical of my view that it was time to move on from the “unrelenting and unforgiving bitterness,” still being promulgated by some who supported the forces of the South in the Vietnam War of forty years ago.

Mr Humphries referred to my “blinkered response”, which was to an earlier letter from Dr Anh Nguyen, as being “contemptible.”

I am not an apologist for the forces of North Vietnam. I accept that they were involved in brutal acts of war.

I would also point out however that the forces of the South, aided and abetted by their Western allies who provided assistance in the form of aids to destruction such as of napalm, agent orange and superior weaponry generally, certainly have no claim  to the moral high ground in this particular conflict.

In this regard I would suggest that Mr Humphries is the “blinkered one”.

The bottom line is that the Vietnam War, as were many that preceded it throughout world history was a horrendous event.

There is nothing to be gained by continuing the debate over who was right and who was wrong.  

Those who continue to play the blame game, simply exacerbate the unfortunate and ongoing tendency for politicians to try and resolve political differences by force. I repeat, “Let it go”.

John Martin, Woonona

The $50 million to update the WEC – another half-baked Wollongong idea. Better to sell the WEC and showground to an international hotel/casino consortium and use the proceeds (along with State assistance)  to build a multi-purpose stadium and convention centre at Lang Park with plentiful parking.

Alternatively hold a few more Wiggle concerts and council could finance the update with fines to parents parking illegally to attend or to pick up their children after the event.

Eric Davies, Keiraville

Today was a sad day not only for the thousands of dogs who will now continue to suffer in this cruel and unjustifiable industry, but also for democracy.

The government has acted on speculation about their polling numbers and pressure from individuals who gain financially from this abusive industry, and ignored the vast majority of New South Wales constituents who abhor the inherit brutality of greyhound racing.

The Premier may think he is saving his political future, but they say fortune favours the brave and in this case, Mr Baird has shown he is anything but.  

Laura Weyman-Jones, Press Officer, PETA Australia