Letter to Montreal West Merchants

Dear Merchants / Chers commerçants: Just a brief reminder that the next Montreal West town hall meeting will be held Tuesday, August 26 beginning at 8 PM. Do you agree with the recently-erected traffic barrier on Broughton Street where it becomes des Erables Street in Lachine? With that barrier, your town council is making it difficult for some 300 Lachine residents to shop on Westminster Street. And, with two hundred new homes currently being built at the bottom of Des Erables, a whole new market of customers will also likely bypass Westminster Street businesses and go shopping elsewhere. Mayor Campbell Stuart defended his erection of the barrier in early June by claiming to be following the recommendations of the CIMA traffic study, but that study does NOT recommend erecting a two-way barrier as has now been put in place. The CIMA study and two other independent traffic reports show Broughton and Easton have neither excessive nor dangerous traffic. And while Mr. Stuart claims to be promoting public safety, many of you may have noticed that his administration has not yet deemed repainting of crosswalks on Westminster Street to be a priority this year. If you question or disagree with or how this town is being run, let your voice be heard! Unless the populace speaks up, nothing will change. The next Town Hall meeting is on August 26 with another one on Tuesday, September 30. Writing a letter to your councilors is another, but less effective, way to be heard. Yours truly, Maureen Marovitch John Symon 154 Hillcrest Street 111 Rosewood Street maureen@picturethis.ca