Council, take a stand against trail destruction
Sir: Further to the letter from Mike Tanner on June 9, I would like to express my opinion on the proposed paving over of part of the Howard Watson Trail.
This trail is one of the unique things Sarnia has to offer. A person can walk or bike from one end of the city to the other without all the traffic noise or, if on a bicycle, never having to compete with cars beside you. Exmouth Street is the busiest street in Sarnia and is not bike friendly!
I have heard that twenty years ago a developer of the Rapids Parkway housing development approached council about getting an exit on Exmouth Street for the subdivision. Twenty years ago there were not a lot of houses built there, certainly not enough to warrant acquiring rights for this Exmouth Street exit where the Howard Watson Trail happens to be.
This subdivision has three exits for a largely single-family home development. They certainly don’t need any more!
The Howard Watson Trail needs nothing done to it. It is perfect just the way it is. If this road extension is allowed it will be easier for another developer or the city to take another part of the trail under the guise of “progress.”
It is time for councillors to stand up and say that city council runs this town, not developers! Let them know this destruction of part of the trail is not going to happen.
Sarnia has three or four roads on the “Worst Road List” and certainly doesn’t need to spend money on building another street, when there doesn’t appear to be enough money for existing Sarnia roads.
To all the people that I meet every day on the trail, please put pen to paper or fingers to computer keys, and let the city council and city manager know how you feel about the Howard Watson Trail. People say it’s a done deal. Nothing is a done deal until the bulldozer starts pushing trees over to make room for another exit unto the busiest street in Sarnia.
Come on folks, now is the time to act!
Lloyd Marshment
Sarnia
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Road extension over trail a big mistake
Sir: It is just beyond belief that the Rapids Parkway extension continues to creep towards its construction phase despite the articulate and factual opposition of so many.
Planning in Sarnia seems to proceed in a rational and
well-managed manner but, apparently, from time to time we need an excursion into complete foolishness to re-establish our commitment to proceed thoughtfully forever afterwards.
The section of the trail about to be trashed by the extension is precious. It is lined by mature trees, filled with birdsong and ablaze with a gallery of wild flowers.
As you walk the trail, toads jump into the undergrowth ahead and rabbits scamper around the path oblivious to your presence.
We are going to raze this? Why? So we can add more cars onto the busiest street in the city?
We need more voices to be heard on this issue. Where is Lambton Wildlife? Where are the trail users?
Who speaks for the trees?
Andrew Brennek
Sarnia
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A suggestion to thwart park vandalism
Sir: Re: the June 14 item about stones being placed along the north edge of Lake Chipican to improve the pond habitat.
The caption also mentioned that the city plans to replace the damaged green posts along the roadway in Canatara Park.
Wouldn't it be prudent to resolve the automotive vandalism problem in the park first, before adding new targets at taxpayer expense for them to knock down with their vehicles?
If the gaps in the fencing along the road need replacing, why not use old decommissioned power/telephone line poles instead?
Laid parallel to the edge of the road and staked in place, they would probably be better at preventing vehicle breaches, and less expensive than the green posts.
M.D. Kidd
Sarnia