Close the Grove, spend the money elsewhere - Parksville-Qualicum News, Tuesday, January 20, 2004
www.pqbnews.com

On Dec. 17, '03, the editor of this paper kindly printed a letter from me regarding Cathedral Grove when I asked "was the expense of the proposed parking lot really necessary?" and I suggested that perhaps it would be more prudent to close the Grove to allow the wonderful old growth trees to rest in peace thus saving the $2 million.

To reinforce the above statement,I have just learned today (January 15/04) that in addition to the $2 million to build the parking lot, the cost of the road widening and left lane turns required to allow entry in and out of this parking lot will be $450,000.

So we now have a cost of $2,450,000 for this parking lot. This comes at a time when it has been reported on Global TV that the only space available in a hospital for a female patient who suffered a stroke was in a closet. Now come on, which is more important, a parking lot or a hospital bed. If this government has $2,450,000 available to spend, a portion of this could be better spent on more hospital beds and the rest on improving the very dangerous road to Port Alberni. So let's forget about the parking lot, close the Grove to the public (as the trees may become a danger soon due to being waterlogged) let the endangered elk live in peace and make the highway safer to travel and into the bargain perhaps we would get a few more hospital beds.

Greta Taylor
Bowser

© Copyright 2004 Parksville Qualicum News