To the editor:
Westbank and Glenrosa need improvements just like all the other areas being looked at right now. There’s the $25-million Westside road upgrade for the 2,500 residents, the $100-million to $400-million bypass/widening cost in Peachland for its 5,400 residents, the millions spent already for roundabouts at Boucherie Road.
What about an improvement to solve Glenrosa Road? Hundreds of houses have been approved for construction in Glenrosa and the bottleneck gets worse and worse. We need another road in and out of Glenrosa. We could join up with the Coquihalla at Trepanier and at the same time it would fit in with Peachland’s bypass. This would entail going up Jack Creek, and branching off to Glenrosa’s top flat and if we wanted to bypass Westbank, why not culvert Powers Creek near the treatment plant. Then through Smith Creek, Shannon Lake to Bartley Road.
Westbank needs its town back along with a city hall. Highways estimate of $41 million for converting both sides to two-ways would encourage businesses on Main Street. Premier Christy Clark, we need some representation!
The recent defeat of the city hall referendum [watch the interesting Oct. 25, 2016 meeting 9.1.1] A humbled council did an abrupt turn. Coun. Duane Ophus said the plan was too “grandiose” so there would be no underground parking, no private-public partnerships, and much more community involvement.
They voted in favour of looking into a phased-in city hall, using over $7 million in funds they already have — the first phase to be completed in 18 to 24 months. They need to be out of our community arena centre by 2018. Rusty Ensign said the 12-acre Bartley Road site needs to be used for the public works yard so is not suitable for a city hall.
We need a more beautiful setting and one where the majority of the people live. We need progress and the right kind of progress, but with all of the voters involved.
Farlie Paynter, Westbank
