Editor:
It would be nice to know on whose ‘expert advice’ White Rock was acting, when the city decided to chop down the trees above the beachfront along Marine Drive.
The deed does seem to run counter to sound logic. After all, is there anything that can maintain the stability of a slope better than deep rooted, healthy trees? Those trees, standing proud and tall, had withstood numerous storms through the years, and they hadn’t done so by having weak, shallow roots.
My husband and I have friends who built a gorgeous retirement home on Camano Island, on a bank overlooking the ocean. They had expected to be allowed to take out trees, to open-up their view. The municipality denied their request, citing the need to retain the trees in order to maintain bank stability.
Years ago, some of our relatives bought a home in a new district of Peace River, Alta. The house was across the street from the river bank. Trees had been removed from the bank, allowing homeowners to take advantage of the lovely view.
The family enjoyed the location for a few years, before being transferred elsewhere. Some years later, they returned to the area to visit with friends and decided to go by their old place. Imagine their surprise when they couldn’t do a drive-by; the road was gone – broken off when the bank caved in.
Let’s hope that the remedial work White Rock does on “the hump” is effective. Otherwise, the folks living along that stretch of Marine Drive may wake up one morning with much more of a water view than they desired.
Gail Kent, South Surrey
