Editor,
Re: Fencing to be installed to block access to Revelstoke airport area wetlands, revelstoketimesreview.com, News, Mar. 28
An open letter to Gary Holte, Manager of Environment and Engineering Services; Lonnie Parker, CSRD Area B Director
I am sending this letter because I oppose your plans to try to block the trail that we use to access the Columbia River Flats near the airport. I am extremely disappointed at the lack of effort put in to working with the airport neighbourhood and other users of this area to come up with a plan to protect the security of the runway, and continue to allow access to the beauty of what we like to refer to as ‘our back yard’.
This is an area that my family has enjoyed for 20 years, walking and biking, all without having to get in a car and drive anywhere. It is also a great place to launch a kayak or row boat when the water is high. Going down for a walk to the flats is a big part of our recreational life and something we do on a daily basis at times. It is also a safe route to ride to town without being subjected to the traffic along Airport Way and Red Devil Hill.
My dog and I were out there on the flats yesterday and again today, it was lovely. You need to realize the effect this would have on the families that live by the airport.
It is obvious to me that the only way you can improve the security of your airport is to put up a fence along the runway and around your weather station equipment. Is it really $100,000 for just that amount of fencing? Maybe you should get a few different quotes. You already wasted money last time you tried to block access and had to remove the fencing because it affected the deer that also use that same route. Did you save that fencing? It could be reused in a more appropriate place.
Is it really necessary to put up a fence with 3 strands of barbed wire at the top? I would think that a 4 or 5 foot fence would suffice to keep a dog out, and would result in considerable cost savings. The fact that there has never been an incident really makes me question why this is being done at all. Maybe you just need a fence around the weather station equipment.
I am requesting that you set up a public meeting to discuss this issue so that we can all work together to find some solutions that will keep the trail accessible. I am sure that we can come up with something better than what you have suddenly announced.
Renee Myers,
Revelstoke