We need the RCMP more than new lawn
Editor’s note: The Shawnigan Lake RCMP detachment is not moving at this time.
What is happening with the new location for the Shawnigan Lake RCMP detachment? I understood that they were to relocate to a site where a major development on Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road is to happen. This would put the RCMP closer to the highway, where most of their calls are for. As for now, they have a long distance to travel before they can even get to any incident on the highway. Time lost.
If this deal has fallen through, perhaps another site could be found. There is a vacant area at the corner of Cobble Hill Road and the highway, across from the Petro-Can gas station that would be a perfect location. Right where a lot of accidents occur. I don’t know who owns it or if it is even on the market but it should be investigated as to its availability. Could the CVRD not be involved in ensuring that a new station gets built in either place, if both are viable?
Our area director is about to spend $130,000 for a new lawn in the Commons area in Cobble Hill that came from the gas tax rebate program. How about, instead, the CVRD and local areas pool this tax money into assisting in acquiring a new location and a building for the RCMP. I would think this is a more important use of tax dollars.
Our area has wasted taxpayer dollars of over $70K for a newer vision of our OCP that was done just a while ago. Another $50K went to a private school. How is any of this helping with public safety? Some common sense should be used when making monetary decisions and, so far, I am not seeing it.
We need the RCMP more than a new lawn.
Ed Aiken
Cobble Hill
