Friday, August 15, 2008

Reconsideration called for roundabout project

A Vernon politician vows to fight bureaucratic rules over a proposed roundabout on East Hill. City staff have stated that council can no longer reconsider the project at 32nd Avenue and Pleasant Valley Road because of procedures, but Coun. Patrick Nicol disagrees. “Don’t use that (explanation) as a reason not to proceed. Don’t tell me we can’t listen to people because the time is up,” he said. Staff states that the future of the roundabout can’t be revisited because it’s been more than 30 days since council voted to construct the traffic device at the intersection. It’s also been pointed out by staff that work has started on the project. But Nicol doesn’t believe his council colleagues sufficiently considered a 296-name petition against the roundabout. "Why wouldn’t the people who signed this petition receive some consideration?” he said. “It’s a very big mistake not to listen to these folks.” Some residents have suggested that there aren’t enough accidents at the intersection to warrant a roundabout and that it will come too close to homes and a dental clinic. Coun. Barry Beardsell refutes claims from Nicol that the petition was ignored. “We saw the petition and it was presented to us,” he said, adding that he had some concerns about the document. “So many of the names on the petition were not in the general area (of the intersection) and many were not even from Vernon.” Beardsell doesn’t support the roundabout issue being debated again by council. “We’ve heard the pros and cons and there has been no new information presented,” he said.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Way to go, Councillor Nicol! Thanks for listening to the people! It is unforuntate that your comrade (and fellow East Hill neighbour) Councillor Beardsell has not opened his mind or his ears.

How about this for new information:

1. Traffic circles improve traffic flow, which is exactly what our neighbourhood does NOT want. How about a traffic calming device, gee like a 4-way stop?

2. Has anyone ever heard of a traffic circle built at the bottom of a relatively steep hill? What will this look like in the wintertime? Despite being equipped with 4 winter tires, my car still slid through the 4-way stop in question this past winter as I descended 32nd ave and I am not looking forward to being the ornament in the middle of the circle this winter!

The Mayor/Dictator is willing to listen to one lady who wrote a letter about a park near her house, but he does not want to listen to the hundreds of residents who have voiced their concerns over this moronic staff-led initiative?? Give me a break, there must be some other roads that are actually broken that you could fix!

Anonymous said...

With the election round the corner Cllr Nicol seems to be out to garner some attention and support

This is the councillor who ignored the thousands of people who voted against that insane civic complex idea as well as supporting the white elephant nutters' club proposal for a cultural centre set up by Harvey

He was on record ONE DAY before the alternate approval petition saying 'they don't have the votes'!!

THAT is how connected Mr Nicol is to the citizens!

Now he is 'concerned' that the citizens be heard Re the roundabout
How moving and empathetic!


Whenever there is a council meeting it always seems as though Mr Patrick Nicol does not read ahead of time his material by the questions he asks

That is my impression whenever I attend council meetings

Well Mr Nicol there is an old saying

'You can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time'!


Please find something else to do other than running at the next civic election