The Thames Coast Protection Society wishes to inform you of our serious concerns about proposed changes to the Thames Coast Road (State Highway 25) between Te Puru and Tapu.

This is a beautiful pohutakawa lined scenic road that is one of the longest pieces of sea level foreshore roadway in New Zealand. Its special features are valued by local residents and visitors alike.

We are waiting for the release of a strategy plan for State Highway 25 and the opportunity to make submissions to that plan, but in the meantime we are concerned that Transit N.Z.'s 1990/1991 Programme contains items proposing seal widening, bank trimming and curve easing. We understand that this Programme "Output 1V : State Highways" is submitted to you for approval of funding.

We have been assured by Mr Taylor, acting Regional Manager of Transit N.Z. Waikato that no work will be done before the strategy plan is public. But we also understand that it is not possible to formally object to specific plans regarding the road since alterations to the road will probably be within the road reserve.

We are particularly concerned that road widening will mean the loss of valued pohutakawas, and the cutting of batters that destroys vegetation and results in continuous dangerous slips.

We have been approached by doctors working in Thames who are angry that serious multiple fatal accidents have happened on the stretch of road that has already been widened. It is our experience that this type of accident has not occurred on the stretch of road that we are concerned about for at least five years and possibly much longer. We enclose a copy of a statement made by Dr Peter Parkinson.

We believe that the road should be designated scenic highway because it is undoubtedly a national treasure. We also believe that the recently erected 100 kph signs put up in place of the old signs indicating the end of a limited speed zone should be replaced by 70 or 80kph signs.

We have made submissions along these lines to the Tourist and Publicity Department and to the Road Safety Committee. We are sure that the granting of these two requests would result in an immediate improvement in road safety, whereas wider roads increase the speed of traffic and the likelihood of accidents.

Our principal reason for writing is to ask you to ensure that work on State Highway 25 between Tararu and Wilson's Bay is not undertaken without full public consultation regarding the specific nature of the planned alterations to the road.

We also ask that you recommend that State Highway 25 between Waiomu and Tapu is designated a scenic highway. And in addition we seek your assistance in having the 100kph signs removed from the Thames Coast and replaced with 70 or 80 kph signs.