Editor:
I am a longtime Lower Gibsons resident. For about a month now, on my walks, I have had the dubious pleasure of passing by the anti-George encampment in downtown Lower Gibsons. I have stopped several times to read their four large display placards.
The majority of these placards are made up of two columns. One is headlined “developer’s claims,” the other “the facts” (or rather the facts as the anti-George crowd sees them).
The developer’s claims as presented are easily verified, as they are documented with readily available reference material. Other than the one report, submitted by a Dr. Riddle stating that in her opinion a five-storey hotel would be more profitable, the rest of “the facts” have no creditable references that back up their claims. Most of their claims are misleading, to say the least.
For example, they state as fact that “Winn Road would become privately owned by the developer.” The real facts are that only the small, steep, single-lane part of Winn Road (below Gower Point Road) would be incorporated into the development. They also fail to mention that this lane would be replaced with an open public concourse leading to the sea wall that will be fully accessible to everyone.
Another example, this one blatantly incorrect, is that “17 existing free public parking spaces would be lost.” They fail to mention that these spaces will only be “lost” during the construction phase and will be returned once construction is complete. One of their “facts” used to state: “Excavations for building foundations would penetrate into the Gibsons aquifer.” Recently this section of the placard was blocked out by green tape. I wonder why?
I could go on with more examples, but I believe I have made my point.
With their misleading representation of “the facts” they are not doing themselves, their credibility or their cause any favours.
Simon Broomhall, Lower Gibsons
