News TheReview Wednesday, July 11,1990 — /¢ a a ns a Blueprint for Island View interchange draws fire q by Mare Davis The Review The latest blueprint for the pro- posed upgrading of the Pat Bay Highway at the Island View Road intersection prompted some area residents to voice opposition at a Central Saanich council meeting, July 3. Residents were responding to a presentation given by Ministry of Transportation project planner Gregg Singer on the affect an interchange at Island View Road FIRE VICTIMS will have on the community, Singer said the interchange would involve building six traffic Janes connecting Central Saanich to the highway, Clarence Bolt spoke out against the highway interchange on behalf of the Save Saanich Peninsula Communities coalition, a lobby group that is opposed to the pro- posed highway expansion. He said the design chosen for the interchange would be both detrimental to the rural beauty of the community and to the environ- Continued from Page Al donations came from St. Ste- phen’s Anglican Church and from the Peninsula Community Associ- ation thrift shop. The community association also helped coordinate local donations to the Richardsons. “I think there was a lot of response,” said office manager Donna Godwin. The couple were offered beds, clothes and house- hold items. Some donors dropped items off at the PCA. office. Richardson was even given an eight-week old kitten, to replace the pet cat who died in the fire. “Tt fills a little bit of a vacant spot there,” she said. In addition to the many dona- tions, Richardson said she appreci- ated the supportive phone calls the couple received. The Waters helped the couple deal with the first impact of their loss and in getting organized during the first few days after the fire. 4 AN AVALANCE of dona- tions has helped Gary and Brenda Richardson since . their rented home and all their belongings were burned in a house fire July 2. Gary (above) is shown the night of the fire at 7976 West Saanich Road, Cen- tral Saanich. Tires stolen Thieves stole on BF Good rich tire on a rim for a Third Street house, then came back two nights later for three more of the same, Sidney RCMP said. The tires and rims, valued at $250, were taken sometime July 2 and July 4. MAYCOCK OPTICAL The Review would like to apolo- gize for any inconvenience cau- sed by the ad that ran on July 4, 1990 as the sale does not com- mence on the date stated. Please look out for Maycock Optical's upcoming sale. “They were the shoulder that we leaned on a lot,” Richardson said. She also appreciated the support offered by the people at the Penin- sula Community Association and at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church. .The one unpleasant experience was when she went to the Sidney social assistance office to pick up a promised emergency cheque. Originally told she needed a note from her husband to pick up the cheque, Richardson was then told the cheque was not ready. Already under stress from the fire, she was upset and humiliated by the experience. “T left there hysterical.” But the overall response was encouraging. “Having that much response built up our self-esteem that maybe people do care. It gives us enough to carry on the fight,” Richardson said. with TOMATO 4PINEAPPLE CHICKEN BALLS CHICKEN $ CHOW MEIN STEAMED RICE ‘Baysfore FAMILY RESTAURANT | 4 _Chinese Cuisine FULLY LICENCED OPEN 11AM TUESDAY - SUNDAY (Except Holidays) 812 Verdier Ave. Brentwood Bay ~ A SPECIAL OF THE i A MONTH | MBO FOR ONE COMB CHOW MEIN FAMILY DINNER — ees ONCEe %ALMOND GUY DING _ |{ eRe 75 *CHICKEN CHOW MEIN ¥D.F. PRAWNS %CHICKEN FRIED RICE TEA OR COFFEE %S&S BONELESS PORK DINNER FOR TWO -} *D.F. PRAWNS {Ia %PAN FRIED WHOLE PRAWNS Q75 $26°° ment. “We have one of the most visually attractive areas that will be blotted out by this inter- change,” he said. ~ Any intrusion into the ground will have an impact on the aquifers and there could be contamination of the water used for irrigation and of water in wells.” Another speaker said some area residents would be forced to move if the interchange was built as planned. You’re going to slash right through the centre of our commun- ity,” he said. Along with other residents, he voiced concern that the shifting of the alignment of the connection to Keating Crossroad was made with- Out consultation with residential home owners. “You've redesigned the road to please people with big money, like Old County Rentals, but not for the small people with less money,” he said. Singer said the redesign of the connector road is aimed at reduc- ing the impact on a residential subdivision near Central Saanich Road, as well as on the green belt around an adjacent creek. He added that his ministry is prepared to listen to the concems of home owners affected by the interchange before beginning con- struction. The highway would be upgraded to an expressway status, which would mean there will be no more direct access to this arterial road, he explained. “Direct access makes it an unsafe situation . . . Our mandate is to address safety and capacity problems on the highways,” he said. A couple of residents showed support for the new interchange, saying that it would make driving to and from the highway much safer. “Tt doesn’t matter where you go on the highway, those crossings are like playing Russian roulette,” one elderly resident said. In a recent letter to Bolt, Prem- ier Bill Vander Zalm said the government won’t back down on its commitment to the billion- dollar Island Highway project. “The need for the highway i SERVES 4-5 PERSONS Serving the Peninsula for over 12 years. Always with Guaranteed Freshness, Consistancy and Good Taste. 652-3622 upgrade is clear and our commit- ment is unwavering,” he said’ in the letter. Vander Zalm turned down a request by Bolt for a meeting to discuss concerns about a lack of public input on the $75 million Pat Bay highway expansion. The Highway Ministry had already reacted to public input by scrapping plans for a freeway, he Said. However, Bolt and other mem- bers of coalitions, from the Penin- sula to Nanaimo who oppose the project, were able to meet High- ways Minister Rita Johnson to air their concems, Wednesday. She declared that there had already been adequate public con- sultation on the issue, Bolt said. Apparently Johnson said there was far more public input into the decision making process than the coalitions had indicated. Bolt disagreed. “Liaison com- mittees have had no impact on the actual process. She Johnson) was taken aback when we told her that there was widespread anger and disillusionment at Mr. Singer’s actions,” he said. The latest alternative, dubbed Altemative 3A, replaces Altermna- tive 3. Its only major change is the manner in which a connecting Toad running through the area west of Central Saanich Road connects to Keating Crossroad. Several residential properties near Saanich Crossroad east of Central Saanich Road will be affected by the plan, if approved. 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