Editor:
There are several reasons we feel a primary access should be established from within the town, prior to the Gospel Rock proposed development being granted any permits.
• Safety issues are critical, including the fact that Pratt is already overburdened and unsafe with high vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
• A sole access via our rural regional area of Elphinstone to a small “village” inside Gibsons borders, with commercial components (brew pub, hotel, etc.), puts a huge strain on our rural neighbourhoods and roads.
• Chaster Road is not designed or engineered for this traffic according to MOTI; 250 units is far too high a threshold before a direct access to the town is put in. We have no guarantee that a direct access to the town will ever be established.
• A sole access means emergency services could be blocked by road failure, an accident or any unforeseen reason. If a fire broke out in the proposed village and the access was blocked, the whole area, including the Town, would be at great risk.
And we want to make clear that being annexed by Gibsons is not an option as we established with a referendum a few years ago. We like our rural RD status!
The proposed Gospel Rock development plan is ill-conceived and needs serious reviewing before proceeding. Primary access via the town is crucial!
Pat Ridgway, on behalf of Pratt Road Traffic Group
