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Kicking Cancer’s Butt
(L to R) Alison Furness, Tony Furness, Alan Travis and Janette Travis came out to run as a team for Smithville’s Terry Fox Run on Sunday. They all wear pink to comemmorate Janette’s fight with breast cancer. For more on Smithville’s run, turn to Page 15. Marks - Photo
Grimsby council says,
“Livingston extension needs to die” By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Niagara Region officials came to Grimsby council Monday with the same old Livingston Extension song and dance. Council was having none of it. Much of the presentation from Niagara Region planning officials came in the form of a lengthy, recorded video which cited an indepth history and host of details about the extension, which could connect Livingston Avenue to Oakes Road.
The extension, and possible need for it, have been part of an intensive community debate for years as it would go through part of what has come to be known as the Irish woodlot on Hunter Road. The woodlot is the last remaining stand of old growth Carolinian forest below the Niagara Escarpment. The matter came to council Monday due to Grimsby’s request at Niagara Region to have Reginal Official Plan Amendment No. 13 - which includes the
extension - removed. To provide background for council, the video dealt with every detail of the proposal right back to the amalgamation of the Region in 1971. At a glance, one might ascertain the details given as solid justification for the Region’s position, but by slightly scratching the surface on some key points made, much of the justification quickly unravelled. Coun. Dorothy Bothwell, chair of Grimsby’s Planning Committee,
dismantled much of the presentation’s key points where it was noted that the extension was approved by Grimsby council in a 1995 transit study. Citing the report” - of which she said, “there are only two printed copies, one in my hand and the other in Town Hall”, she noted the problem with that assumption. “The statement (of approval) is a selected piece of language (from the report),” noted Bothwell. Quoting the report
she noted the extension discussed was part of a much bigger picture assessed in the transportation study back 25 years ago. “There were several things that were supposed to happen to lead to the approval of the extension,” added Bothwell, noting Main Street Grimsby was to be cleared of all parking spots and it would be made a four-lane road in both directions. After other components of the report were executed, “then we’re recommending
Livingston be extended,” added Bothwell. “You are using old information from a transportation needs assessment. This (presentation) tonight is taking one piece out.” Bothwell suggested a wait and see approach be taken on the extension, since an expansion of the South Service Road is to be part of the growth plan around the proposed new GO station in Grimsby. “We need Region to be behind us on this... loud and clear,” said See PLAN, Page 3