Local News

Hi All, 

Here is a link to a news spot that talks about the Maria street parking issue. The Mayor is grasping at explanations that make no sense and have not previously been stated to anyone. Maybe if the Mayor was at the Council proceedings in which four residents confronted Council and expressed the reason for the opposition, he could have sounded more like a Mayor that is interested in his area than a politician trying to justify his bad decisions. 

See the report here.

Bill Gladding's Message to Council

Mayor, Councilors, staff and residents -


I have been a proud Tavistock resident nearly all my life.
In contrast to Mr. Breyer, who is a newcomer, I grew up here, went to school here, raised my children here, have worked in Tavistock since 1969, and owned a business since 1988.


But we both share the same feeling about this village. Tavistock residents have become second class citizens. Who do we turn to when we disagree with the County on lagoon expansion and expropriation of land from a local farmer? Who do we turn to when the traffic is backed up out of town due to construction and there are no police to take control of the situation? Who do we turn to when the Township wants to take land away from a new resident to create a parking lot? It seems we are labelled as whiners and complainers, but we live here. 


We see what is happening, minute to minute, hour to hour, and day to day. Where is our representation? When we get the answer that it's "a County issue" or "not our responsibility," it's not acceptable. Council should be making our concerns known to the proper authorities, no matter how trivial the request seems, and whether it's one person or 50.
I'm sure that when you decided to run for Council, you held to the ideal that you could serve your community and be a voice for fellow residents. Get involved in the community and relay our concerns to the Council table. Today, residents feel we have no voice.


As a newspaper editor and publisher, I try to be impartial and look at both sides of the story. What I am observing is a population that wants one thing, but a Council that wants another. The words and ideas of the people are falling on deaf ears. 


During my lifetime there have been controversies, disagreements, and compromises on many different issues in the village. However, this is the first time I have seen residents so frustrated with decision-making, and the lack thereof, that they want to leave the town.
I won't elaborate anymore on what has already been said, but the lagoon, the library, the traffic lights, and the Royal Reno, continue to be sore subjects. The parking issue has just put people over the top. They've had enough, not only with the issues, but in the way residents are being treated.


I congratulate Deputy-Mayor Maureen Ralph and Councillor Don MacDonald for listening to the people and putting forth the motion at the last meeting to rethink the angle parking construction on Maria Street. I am, however, disappointed in our Tavistock Councilors for not supporting their constituents and at least looking into their concerns further. And I am shocked at the actions of Mr. O'Neil cutting down the tree moments after Council's decision. That was simply unnecessary and flies in the face of respect for the community.


Parking for the sake of parking is not a good idea and angle parking on Maria Street is downright ridiculous. Not only will people have trouble backing out onto a busy street, but after parking they will have to cross the same busy street as a pedestrian. You've just doubled the chances of an accident or injury.


Tavistock doesn't need more parking, it needs a more vibrant downtown with no empty stores, attractive streets without weeds, better lighting, more workable traffic signals, and garbage bins that are large enough, emptied regularly, and enough of them in place to handle the need. 
If Council wants to gain back the trust they have so easily let slip away, then it's time to start listening to the people again. 


Thank you for this opportunity to speak.
Bill Gladding, editor/publisher, Tavistock Gazette

Share your thoughts!

Hi All,

This blog was established to provide the residents of East Zorra Tavistock with a forum to share their ideas, questions and concerns related to your Community. So feel free to send me your thoughts on any current or new issues you want to be heard whether anonymous or attached to your name and I will post it here. Just email it to jonkirkross@gmail.com.

Also, you can subscribe to updates on the right hand side of this blog.

You can also vote on what you think should happen with the online polls on the right side of the page.

Lastly, you can leave comments on any of the posted articles.

Use this as others have been to let Council know what you want for your Community.

Thanks for participating!!!
Jon

Article in "The Beacon"

See the latest article on the subject at the Stratford Beacon Harold's website at:
http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/2012/08/01/council-silent-on-parking-issue

Very good article, it illustrates the real problem with this issue... Council is not listening.

Regards,
Jon

Heart FM Article - Tavistock's Royal Reno Hits Financial Snag

So, it sounds like the community is not in agreement with the project. See the article at Heart FM:

Tavistock's Royal Reno Hits Financial Snag

Jon Ross' Message to Council

Good Afternoon, 

Mr Mayor, Councilors Smith, Lazenby and particularily Councilors Lawry and Fulton, I am truly disappointed with you. Over the last month the Residents of Tavistock have made an attempt to get through to you and communicate what the residents of Tavistock desire for Maria street. There was a Rally in which more than 30 East Zorra Tavistock residents attended, there were 170 signatures collected in just 3 and half days by folks that work all day, and there are more signatures to deliver today, and of the signatures that I collected only 2 refused because they never sign petitions, there have been several articles in the newspaper, several letters to the editor, numerous on-line blog postings, 

phone calls, emails to all Councilors, there was even a motion and seconder to abolish this project and now there are residents here in front of you to communicate a single message "TAVISTOCK DOES NOT WANT ANGLED PARKING!!!". 

We the residents of East Zorra Tavistock have been trying every means of communication to tell you that we DO NOT WANT ANGLED PARKING and yet you do not hear us. We are the rate payers, you are our representatives, it is your job and responsibility to listen to our concerns and act accordingly particularly when you have such an overwhelming number of residents telling you so by all communication means available. 

The residents of Tavistock DO NOT WANT angled parking on Maria street for several reasons, including:

1. Angled parking is unsafe.
2. The parking spaces on Maria street are rarely all taken and even when they are, the extra distance to walk from an available parking spot is insignificant.
3. This project is a misuse of tax dollars that could otherwise be spent on things the community actually needs.
4. There is no enforcement of the two hour limit on Maria street and so we would expect that residents of near by properties may use this parking for residential parking, i.e. residents and visitors to the library apartments and we do not want that.
5. The feed trucks that use Maria street to access the feed mill will subject Post Office users to greater risk because of visibility issues with angled parking.
6. The plan provides no sidewalk in front of the angled parking so that folks can access the cross walk and cross the street safely. This demonstrates that the Township expects the users of the angled parking to cross the street no matter where they park. By creating that situation, the township would be liable damages if an accident were to occur as a result of the angled parking.

Furthermore, with respect to the vote against the motion by Ralph, seconded by McDonald, I am appalled and disgusted with the way in which you excercised your might and power to demonstrate to the residents that you call the shots and that you are the all mighty council of East Zorra Tavistock by cutting down that tree within 60 minutes of the decision.  

To summarize my thoughts, I would like to state:

• You are creating something Tavistock doesn't need, that is unsafe and at a significant cost to the tax payers of Tavistock.
• You represent the people of Tavistock, yet you don't listen to them.
• You know it is OK to change your mind, it is NOT a weakness, it shows that you have compassion and an open mind. 
• You best think about how you handle this situation, we are here to be heard and to listen, if you go into a closed session after this to discuss amongst yourselves, it will NOT look good!!!

In closing, I have several questions that I would like you a a Council to answer:

• Are you willing to take personal responsibility for property that is damaged because of an accident that results from the angled parking, because I as a tax payer refuse to allow my taxes to pay for your bad judgement.
• Are you willing to take personal responsibility for injuries that that occur because of an accident that results from the angled parking, because I as a tax payer refuse to allow my taxes to pay for your bad judgement.
• How can you call yourselves representatives of East Zorra Tavistock when you do not heed the wishes of the tax payers you represent?
• Why do you insist on spending our tax dollars to fund a project that doesn't serve any residents of Tavistock?
• Why, with all of the opposition, from the tax payers of East Zorra Tavistock, are o moving forward with a this project?

Shirley Hanlon's Message to Council

Deputy Mayor Ralph, Councillors:

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to speak to what I believe is a grave concern for our local community of Tavistock.  That is your proposal to create angle parking spaces on the east side of Maria St.  butting up to our infamous 5 corners intersection.  As someone who is concerned with all aspects of safety in our community, I don’t know how to say it, other than this is a “no brainer”.  This intersection is already a challenge at the best of times and now, from my perspective…and the perspective of many others, you are only adding fuel to the fire for a deadly accident to occur. 

Imagine Mayor McKay if you had your trucked parked in the first space, and Councillor Lawry you had your truck parked in the second space.  Then Mrs. Smith who has had her car parked next attempts to leave and begins to back out.  There is no way she can see oncoming traffic until she is clear of those trucks.  And chances are one of those lights have turned green and another vehicle or two is heading south on Maria.  When he/she sees Mrs. Smith coming out there is nowhere to go.  Your trucks are on their left and other vehicles are parked on the west side.  Did Mrs. Smith cause the accident?  Did your trucks that were obscuring the view cause the accident?  In all fairness I would say “no”.  It was caused by poorly planned parking and traffic flow.   I have heard that a comment was made that speed bumps would slow down traffic on Maria.  I beg to differ.  From my perspective speed bumps will only cause rear-end collisions right at the intersection.

Sometimes we don’t have choices as to how things are done (legislation, existing laws, etc.) but in this case you DO have a choice.  You CAN revert back to the parallel parking that currently exists.  Common sense must prevail.  The plan that currently exists is not all flawed.  The barricade at the south end of the one-way section does need to be improved.  It is amazing how many strangers (at least I hope it is strangers) drive right into that one-way section the wrong way, and proceed to the lights.  Your proposal to improve that point of exit from the one-way section is much appreciated.

So my big question is WHY are you so driven to put in angle parking?  We have been told that it is to increase parking in the down-town core.  And yet no studies have been done to substantiate this.   A number of different residents recorded the parking situation on both Maria St. and Woodstock St. South for approximately 1 week.  As you have seen there was no time when parking was not available in either of these areas.  In fact since the first week in July when a couple of vehicles who would park there for basically the full work day have discontinued doing that, the Maria St. one-way section has been used primarily for what it was intended…a 15 minute stop… get the mail, maybe pick up a prescription and then drive on. 

And on this issue of more parking.  If I may be so bold as to say…I think you have the cart before the horse here.  I think the community would be better served if the money and effort was put into working collaboratively with the local businesses that are here now, and to attract new business.  Tavistock has a Chamber of Commerce.  To me this would be the foundation that you would start with.  Build the business sector, be creative, be welcoming…..or by gosh, you can forget about needing any parking.

In the past month I have had many residents speak to me on the street or call me at home.  All of these residents were saying basically the same thing.  Angle parking on Maria St. is not what they want to see.  It is an accident waiting to happen.

Residents are frustrated.  Many throw up their hands in disgust.  They are tired of not being listened to or even consulted in a timely manner – before decisions have already been made.  They are tired of attending “Community Consultations” where they only appear to be a political, procedural “required to do”.  They are tired of calling their local Councillors and not having their calls returned.  We are tired of hearing all too often “if you don’t like the decision you can always appeal”.

None of us here today are naive enough to think that the job you have to do is an easy task.  It is not.  But only by being more open, transparent and working together will we be able to improve this relationship and improve and enhance our township for those who follow us.                   

QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY SHIRLEY HANLON                     AUGUST 1, 2012

Why was angle parking considered in the first place?

How many parking violations have been issued in Tavistock in the last 2 years?  And where specifically in Tavistock were those tickets issued?

Will you consider having open discussions (not in Closed Session) on how to improve communication with the rate payers of EZT?  Could that agenda include topics such as: sharing long term visions; increasing the utilization of electronic input/feedback;  how to actively engage local existing organizations & service clubs;  improving EZTalk, that I believe is sent to every household in EZT, that people want to open and not see the same old, same old (I’m sure a lot of staff hours are put into creating this, but it could incorporate more relevant and current information)?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Following her presentation Shirley Hanlon presented petitions with a total of 111 signatures.  Combined with what was delivered to the Municipal Office on July 13/12 would now make a total of 281 ratepayers expressing their opposition to angle parking.

As well, parking utilization on Maria St. for three more days following the submission of July 13/12 was also submitted.

Council Meeting... What may result???

East Zorra Tavistock Council agreed to allow four members of the community to address Council today at 1:30 PM. However, unfortunately, Mayor McKay and Councilor Smith were not in attendance for the Community address. Chad Breyer (resident whose property borders the angled parking), Bill Gladding (Resident and Owner of the Tavistock Gazette), Shirley Hanlon (Resident and Community Activist) and Jon ross  (Resident and Community Activist) all took 5 minutes to address the Councilors in attendance (Lazenby, McDonald, Ralph, Fulton and Lawry). So each of the four residents took their 5 minutes and addressed the Council (each of the speeches will be posted here). Upon completion of the four presentations, Maureen Ralph asked Council if they'd like to ask any questions of the speakers and there was silence. Maureen Ralph then asked Council if they'd like to take any action based on the presentations and again, there was silence. Then Ralph asked if Council would like to just accept it as information. Ralph then noted that the Council would answer the questions asked of them and get back to the speakers.

So, the long and short of it is that the Council has done nothing so far, is doing nothing now and may still do nothing. However, we the residents and tax payers have given them every opportunity to do something... Let's see if they have it in them to do the right thing, we have done all that we can!

August 1 Council Meeting

This is a call out to everyone concerned with the Angled Parking to take some time on the morning of August 1 to head out to the Council meeting in Hickson and voice your opinion to the Council directly. With the exception of Ralph and McDonald, the members of Council clearly have a problem hearing our Rally, our emails, our phone calls, the newspaper articles, our letters to the editor, this blog and our petition, so maybe they'll HEAR OUR VOICES because clearly there is a disconnect between what we as the residents of Tavistock are communicating and what the Council is understanding, unless they are outright ignoring us!!!

It would be great to have a room full of people there to let Council know that we won't accept their ignoring us anymore! So, come on out and assist us and say your piece!!!

Great Article in the Tavistock Gazette Today

Get your paper today, Bill wrote a great article in the Gazette detailing the miss direction that council is taking.

Petitions to Sign

The opportunity to sign the petition regarding the angled parking is not over. There are petitions available to be signed at Quehls and Village Variety.

A Safer Plan

The general consensus of the Community of Tavistock is that we don't need a new Pavilion. It is a big building, there isn't demand for the two that we have and from what I understand, the Community asked for something different in the survey that was conducted. 

Not only does the Community not want this project, but there are also some major flaws with the current plan, the biggest of which is the safety factor.

Below is a drawing that illustrates the safety issues:

1. The new entrance is on a bend on a busy road that is very busy.
2. There is no sidewalk of the entrance side (south) of the road, so pedestrians will have to cross the street.
3. There is no cross walk (and if there were one, it would still be unsafe as it is on a bend)
4. The entrance is just a metres from the intersection of Minerva & Decew.

The Committee claims that the pedestrian entrance is at the east and west entrances of the Park, however Pedestrians will use this entrance. Furthermore, they stated that the Township and County Engineers didn't see an issue with the entrance. The reality is that the 4 issues noted above make this an unsafe entrance to the park.

Bicycles, pedestrians and cars will all choose to enter the park here particularly when there is a ball game and a soccer game at the same time. Think of when a ball game and a soccer game are over at the same time, traffic to and from the soccer fields, pedestrians, bicycles and cars will all be navigating that tight area with no facility for pedestrians to safely cross the street. The first pedestrian issue that occurs will result in the insurance companies targeting the Township for not addressing pedestrian traffic. Not sure how the Engineers from the Township and County thought that there isn't a safety issue but there is... it is blatantly obvious. That road has it's issues without an entrance on the bend, it is already a safety factor.  

Illustration of the current "Royal Reno" plan

Legend: Green - the park area      White - existing features      Pink - phase two features      Purple - existing buildings      Grey - Royal Reno phase 1

So, if we were to move forward with the "Royal Reno", how could we go about it in a safer manner? Well, if you look at the drawing below, you will see some ideas of how you could construct the pavilion and parking with an entrance that offers a safe alternative entrance to the park. 

This plan includes:

1. New entrance to the park at the end of Wellington street.
2. New crosswalk across Roth st to the sidewalk on Wellington street
3. Walking path on the south side of the proposed road (which is currently there just not yet paved)
4. Move the parking from the North side of the pavilion to the south side

So, now imagine that a soccer game and a ball game leave the park at the same time. Pedestrians, bicycles and cars came come and go from the park in a safe manner. via the east and west entrances to the park. It makes sense doesn't it?????

Illustration of the proposed Safer "Royal Reno" plan

Legend: Green - the park area      White - existing features      Pink - phase two features      Purple - existing buildings      Grey - Royal Reno phase 1

Petition Delivered to Council

Ladies & Gentlemen,

This afternoon at approximately 2:35 p.m. a package was delivered to the Township Office that contains the signatures of 170 individuals on a petition asking you to "halt reconstruction of a section of Maria Street in Tavistock - specifically from the lights at the 5-corner intersection south to Hendershot Street.  We believe that by moving forward with the proposed angle parking creates a serious risk to the safety of both drivers and pedestrians."  These signatures were gathered within 3 1/2 days by local residents who made the time at the end of their work day to actively demonstrate that there are many, many residents who do NOT support your recommended changes.  And many are away on vacation too who otherwise would have been happy to sign. 

Also included is documentation of the number of vehicles that were parked on both Maria Street (the one-way section only) and on Woodstock St. from the lights south to South Easthope Insurance.  These numbers include vehicles parked on both sides of the street.  We understand that no parking survey was conducted in recent months, so this should give you a good idea of what is actually happening now.  At no time was there ever zero spaces available.  Even at peak times there were still four or five spaces available in that section.

We appreciate that as Councillors for the Township of East Zorra Tavistock you do have the authority to stop this re-construction to implement angle parking.  We sincerely ask that you do so.

     

On behalf of the 170 signers

NOTE: For anyone wanting to sign this petition, there are still petitions available at Quehls and Village Variety.

The Million Dollar Outdoor Building

When I heard about the "Royal Reno" project, as it is so appropriately named, I was somewhat excited of the prospect of what might come to fruition in a new pavilion. However, once I received the "fundraising" package at my home my jaw hit the floor and my tune changed.... 1 million dollars.... WOW!!!

I then spent many hours looking over the fundraising materials to try and understand both the scope and the perceived need for such a mammoth facility. 

Last year sometime the committee sent out surveys to get our ideas for a new pavilion in the park, I even submitted a couple of my own ideas. 

So as I reviewed this information package, and I pondered... 

• did they take all of the ideas and try to integrate them all into the plan?
• is the cost is due to the large parking lot?
• who asked for such a grand building?
• is this going to interfere with the "Step dance and fiddle" campers?
• is this project going to interfere with the Airstream club campers?
• how did safety get overlooked with the entrance to the park?

The million dollars basically covers the cost of the building and the excavating. 

Also, be sure to review the package that you received closely, it is deceiving because most of the trails, parking lots and additional buildings are marked with the word "FUTURE" (so the cost does not cover the entire project). Furthermore, not only is the drawing misleading, but the actual cost of the project is actually more than the package tells you. The new entrance to the park (which has it's own safety issues) is being funded through a different project... that's right... it is being funded as a part of the controversial "Angled Parking" project! So, the cost is likely more in like 1.2 million dollars. And if you add phase 2 to the project, you could probably get close to 1.5 million dollars. Who knows what the real cost is and what kind of overruns will burden the EZT tax payer. 

And if you think the cost to the Township will stop there, you are wrong. There is a huge safety issue with the new proposed entrance to the park. These safety issues will most definitely result in lawsuits to the Township. The issues are:

1. The proposed entrance is on the bend where Decew and Hendershot streets meet.
2. Minerva street is just metres away from this entrance where most drivers turn towards the new entrance.
3. This road is very busy and provides access to the arena, the soccer fields, the memorial hall, the public school and the medical centre for most residents that live on the east side of town.
4. There is no sidewalk on the the park side of the street.
5. There is no cross walk planned for this street.
6. The street is very narrow.
7. The street has no facility for bicycles.

So this new entrance is a safety nightmare and it is clear that the Committee and the Council are ignoring this fact. It will only end up costing the tax payer more money in lawsuits when someone is injured at this entrance.

Another concern is that this building is replacing a 30 year old building that barely gets used.... hmm maybe we don't need a new pavilion if the old one isn't getting a lot of use?? Maybe we don't even need a pavilion at all... Maybe Queens park isn't the best place for a pavilion... Maybe Queens park should be turned into more of a park than a parking lot with all sorts of pavement.... But, one thing is for sure, we certainly don't need such a large scale project.

And what makes a park a nice park? Trees right, well in order to build this new building, they will be cutting down 14 old growth trees... what a waste and for what? An outdoor palace that the majority of residents don't want.

I have now sent two emails to the "Royal Reno" Committee to voice these concerns and I've only received a response on one of them which took 10 days to receive a response and it has been more than a month since I last emailed the committee with no response. 

In both emails sent to the Committee, I asked them who is asking for a new bigger pavilion and they have not yet answered, I really don't think that there is an answer to the question and that's why they haven't yet answered the question.

In the conversations that I've had with residents, many do support a new pavilion, but they are in support of a much more reasonable project, something that is scaled back that can be funded by grants and township money alone!

In conclusion, Tavistock doesn't need a "Royal" pavilion, there are a number of other things that Tavistock could use before we a "1 million dollar outdoor building".

Return to this blog in the next couple of days to see what we think would be a better way to lay out the park to provide a much safer entrance.

Regards,

Jon

Beacon Harold Letter to the Editor

Hi All,

The "Letter to the Editor" that is shown in a previous article was published in the July 9th edition of The Stratford Beacon Harold.

Thanks,
Jon

Email Updates

Hi All,

This article serves to draw your attention to the subscription feature on the right side of this website where you can subscribe to receive updates to this blog. Please use this to get your updates sent to your inbox!!!

Thanks,
Jon

Next Issue to Tackle!

Come back tomorrow to read about the issues with the "Royal Reno". If you have concerns about the "Royal Reno", please forward your comments to jonkirkross@gmail.com and I'll be sure to reference them in the articles.

Send your Comments!

Want to be heard, send emails to all councilors at once by sending your email to: council@jonrossconsulting.com.

Letter to the Editor

Hi All,

Here is a letter to the Editor that I just sent to a number of local newspapers:

"Dear Editor,

Subject: East-Zorra Tavistock Councilors Fail to Listen to the Residents of Tavistock

It is with dismay that this letter is written. It is both unfortunate and unbelievable that we the residents of Tavistock have to resort to this form of communication to get our point across to the Council of East-Zorra Tavistock. 

This action is prompted by events that started almost two years ago, when our council announced that they had sold the Tavistock Public Library to a private citizen of Plattsville (not even a resident of our community) for a measly $10,000. What's more is that this announcement came at the meeting immediately following the Ontario Municipal elections... perfect timing, no need for explanation during elections and still able to secure a chair on council. If the township Council had put that building on the open market it could have certainly brought at least $150,000. So, the Council cost the tax payer at least $140,000. 

Then, there were then a series public meetings and issues brought before Council regarding the Library and these actions served to delay the start of the construction on the old Library building. 

Now just recently, a plan was put forth by the Council to spend $600,000 to create 11 angled parking spots and 3 parallel parking spots. There are numerous safety issues with this parking, first of which is that the only way of getting to safety from the angled spots is to cross a busy street. Secondly, there is barely enough room between the angled spots and the parallel spots to avoid parking collisions. Additionally, backing out of the first parking spot could cause the driver to back into traffic on Hope Street. The wheelchair parking spot will require that passengers (including those with disabilities) on the drivers side get out of the car onto the road. Another safety issue is that this is the main access for feed trucks traveling to the feed mill. Besides all of the safety issues, the parking just happens to be within a short walk of the Library, what a coincidence. The Library, which was next to given away, is now getting free parking at the cost of the tax payers of East-Zorra Tavistock. 

On Friday of the July long weekend, more than 30 residents of Tavistock gathered to rally against the project and to save the beautiful tree that would have to be cut down for the project. The rally lasted a couple of hours and there was great support from passing motorists. 

Then at the most recent Town Council meeting, Deputy Mayor Maureen Ralph put forth a motion to stop the angled parking project, seconded by Don McDonald. However, that would be the only two supporters of the motion and the motion was defeated 5-2 (Don McKay, Linda Fulton, Clive Lawry, Don Lazenby and Jeremy Smith voted against this motion). Within an hour of that meeting, the tree was removed. 

It is clear to us, the residents of Tavistock, that those Councilors that should be representing the interests of the residents for which they are Councilors are indeed not representing our interests. The majority of the residents do not support angled parking at a cost of $600,000. So, why is the Council moving forward, what can we do? Well, we need to take a stand and send our concerns to council@jonrossconsulting.com (sending an email to this address will send directly to all Councilors of East-Zorra Tavistock).

To see the full plans of the project, pictures of the safety issues and details as they happen on this (and other important projects), go tohttp://fixtavi.blogspot.ca/.

Yours sincerely,

Jon Ross

Resident of Tavistock"

Christa Breyer Confronts Dennis O'Neil

Here are some pictures of Christa Breyer confronting Public Works Manager Dennis O'Neil and tree service workers on her property at 6 Hope Street East, Tavistock prior to the tree being cut down.

It took them less than an hour to destroy what nature took probably 100 years to produce.

Feel free to put them on the blog or send to any media outlets. 

Photo by Bill Gladding / Tavistock Gazette

Tree Be Gone!

The tree is gone. Maria Street angled parking is a go.

Council discussed the issue at their July 4 morning meeting.

Deputy Mayor Maureen Ralph put forward a motion to remove angle parking on Maria Street from the reconstruction project. Seconded by Don McDonald.

It was defeated in a 5-2 recorded vote. Ralph and McDonald voted for and everyone else against. 

That means Councillors Clive Lawry and Linda Fulton support the angled parking project.

Tabor Tree Service of Woodstock was on site and cut down the tree within an hour with the help of a large crane and half a dozen men. Photo attached.

Kindest regards,

Bill Gladding, Editor/Publisher
Tavistock Gazette
119 Woodstock St. S.
Tavistock Ont. N0B 2R0
519-655-2341

Ideas That Could Work

So, the Post Office has a patch of grass, a parking lot and some space that could be used to offer "safe" parking on the same side of the street as the Post Office...

Also, what if Maria street was made to be one way all the way to the arena....

What if we had an entrance to the arena from the end of Wellington Street...

Maybe we need to start looking at our town from a town perspective and not a case by case perspective....

Got any ideas that may offer a better alternative to the proposed plan with numerous safety issues.

Please use the comments below to collaborate as a community and come up with the right solution!

Visualizing the New Parking

NOTE: This blog is a forum created for you the reader to offer your comments and suggestions, please use the Comment section at the bottom of each article to offer your constructive comments.

Here is an image of what the parking may look like from the North and the South. This will help to visualize (roughly) where the issue are and how the project will approximately look.

North Image

South Image

Project Drawing & Some of the Issues

NOTE: This blog is a forum created for you the reader to offer your comments and suggestions, please use the Comment section at the bottom of each article to offer your constructive comments.

Here is the drawing of the Maria Street project, there are a number of issues that are clear from this drawing:

1. The wheelchair accessible spot driver door is exposed to on coming traffic, there is no safe way for someone with a disability to get out of the car without being exposed to traffic.
2. The path that leads to the post office (this is where all post office visitors currently and will ultimately continue to walk) is blocked by the wheelchair accessible spot. 
3. The angle spots are too close to the intersection and when backing out vehicles parked in the first two spots could be exposed to traffic travelling from Woodstock street south to Hope street east.
4. Cars parked on along the post office side of the street are too close to the angle parking spots and there could be collisions as a result. 
5. Feed trucks heading to the Feed Mill on Maria street will have a difficult time navigating the tight corner and will create a safety issue with the limited space with this plan. 
6. There is no sidewalk in front of the angle parking, so the only option for folks that park there is to cross the street across traffic, which is now very tight with many blind spots because of the angle parking.
7. The curb is being moved 18 inches to provide extra space for the angle parking. The angle parking however is still too tight for this to be safe. Moving the curb will require that they cut down a perfectly healthy maple that gives the downtown character.

Many of you might ask... why is it that we need all of these parking spots? And why now, is there an issue with parking.... well the short answer is NO, there is nothing wrong with the parking at the post office.... However, with the gift (... I mean sale) of the Tavistock Library to a group that is expanding it and turning the building into apartments.... there becomes a need for more parking in the direct vicinity of the Library and what better way of providing that then by putting in parking at the expense of the tax payer (again.... not only did we get ripped off on the sale price of the library but now we are funding a parking lot for them too) and at a cost of $600,000. Whew... we are getting taken by some bad decisions and it is now time that we as a community take a stand against this!!!!!

Maria Street Rally

Hi Jon

Here's a photo of the people at the rally on Friday evening, June 29, 2012 to bring attention to the safety issues related to the angled parking and reconstruction of Maria and Decew Streets. More than 30 people showed up to talk to the public and air their concerns.

Regards, Bill Gladding

Editor/Publisher

The Tavistock Gazette