Editor:
A two-year-old girl is dead after apparently drowning in a drainage ditch in New Westminster on June 7, according to CTV Vancouver. From this tragic news story we learn that Jan Pazurik, the landlord for the residence, said, “The culverts get damaged and plugged up and the city will not fix them,” and that he has called the city repeatedly urging staff to address the issue.
This is a wake-up call for the Town of Gibsons as this town has a policy promoting open ditches and removing culverts.
The new subdivisions of Aurora West and Parkland have open ditches rather than curb, gutter and underground piping. The settling ponds that are required and ditches are essentially mosquito breeding sites, and safety will be an issue.
Hopefully council will consider safety and return to the standard of curb, gutter and underground piping.
Garry Spencer, Gibsons
