Where is the outrage?

Re: Letter to the Editor — The Gazette July 16, 2011


Sir:

A letter from a Montreal West resident on July 16 describes it ‘an outrage’ that adjacent Lachine rented part of Rene Levesque Park for an all terrain vehicle (ATV) event there. He claims that this chased away joggers and red-winged blackbirds. While sympathetic to the author’s arguments, I suggest he begin by questioning the antics of his own municipal government.

In 2010 Montreal West arbitrarily erected a traffic barrier that cut off a 100-year-old road access for Lachine residents, leaving them only one road access (a 13 percent hill) to the rest of the world. The Montreal fire department (SIM) studied the question before listing five reasons why the barrier should never be built—including that this barrier impedes the emergency evacuation corridor for 1,000 people who live next to train tracks where toxic cargo is routinely carried--but Montreal West ignored that advice. Montreal West similarly ignores two traffic studies and communication from the police department which all describe the barrier as dangerous and/or unnecessary.

The ATVs have now left Rene Levesque Park; joggers and birds have now happily reclaimed their territory. Meanwhile, Montreal West insists that the traffic barrier is permanent and steadfastly continues to ignore all evidence or open any dialogue on the question. This means Lachine residents are nervous every time they hear a freight train rumble by.  

Yours truly,

John Symon

111 Rosewood

Lachine