a Gas station
a Closure irks

5 islanders

dJan-Christian Sorensen
Contributing Writer
A coalition of Bowen Island ferry users fears the

closure of the island’s only service station may
spark a major marine disaster.

Chevron Canada wili close its station at Snug Cove — the
only source of gasoline for the island’s 3,000 residents — on
Canada Day.

Elbert Paul, a director of Ferry CURE (Coalition of Users
to Re-establish Equity) believes that fuel-starved residents will
begin transporting large quantities of gasoline to the island

, aboard the ferry.

That situation, he said, is a powder keg waiting for a match.

“If you have a significant number of individuals doing that,
you could have a severely high risk situation,” said Paul.

Over 200 children from the island also travel by bus to
school in West Vancouver via the ferry each day.

“This could be a huge disaster,” he said.

Current federal regulations allow vehicles oa ferries to carry
one spare tank of gasoline with a maximum capacity of 25 litres
+— about five gallons —- of grs.

“People are stockpiling gasoline on land once they get it
here and that’s a concern as well,” said Paul.

_ Bowen Isfand resident Robin Smith has plans to open a gas
station on the land, bur until a clean bill of health is issued for
the site by the environment ministry, islanders will be left in the

- “Ie could take from five or six months to a year for the

cleanup process to be completed,” said Paul. “What do we do
« im the meantime?”

« The next closest gas station is on the mainland, at
Westmount in West Vancouver, but that doesn’t help residents
on the 10,000-acre island who don’t often leave its confines.
*” Emergency vehicles will be able to fill up at the Capilano
Works Yard on the island until the new station is open.

Paul, who runs a bed and breakfast on the island, said the
island’s tourist industry will likely take a hit as well.

~ It’s a major. conccrn, considering the island’s population
nearly doubles in size during the summer months.

» “It could have a significant impact on tourism and people’s
ability to be mobile on Bowen,” he said. “To close it down at
the height of tourist season is, in my view, inappropriate.”

Paul asked Chevron to defer the closure until the start of
October so that the coalition could secure an interim source of
gasoline for islanders, but the corporation didn’t budge.

. ao has absolutely no desire to accommodate,” he
said...

“They can’t sit around when there's a public safety issue and
not do anything. They have a social responsibility.”

that he thought the whole

NICOLE Farrell, foreground left to right,

Wave riders

, Suzanne Sherwood, Kate Mulligan and the rest of the Rockridge.

school surf club show some of the boards they've built. Next step: Tofino for surfing lessons.

Racism alleged in lot dispute |

From page 3

bourhood.

An amendment to the sub-
division control bylaw, raising
the minimum lot size from the
current 660 sq. metres to 880
Sq. metres, was introduced at
Tuesday’s meeting and referred
to a public hearing. If the
amendment passes Ngan
would not be able to subdivide,
regardless. of the covenant.

ut ’s lawyers point
out that only two lots ~ oe
and another property in the
neighbourhood — are large
enough to subdivide under the
district’s current regulations.
The other owner has stated he
is not interested in subdividing.
“This is not about 2 land-
slide of subdivisions and new
homes and cars,” said lawyer
Eleanor Gregory. “There's
only two people who could do

“There were several blatant-
ly racist remarks,” she said.
“They were jumping to con-
clusions, like it would be a big
ugly house, he was only in it for
profit, he has no ties to the
community.” She also pointed
out that the subdivision bylaws
were extensively reviewed five

years ago during the neigh-
bourhood zoning process.

“the Supreine Court level after
municipal legal counsel.and a
ajority: of Sharp’s* council
colleagues cleared her of any
wrongdoing. *

However, as Chief Justice
“Bryan Williams observed in
his summation, Sharp had not
been present during discus-
sions : of: firefighters’. wages

id © benefits. -Rather, she
‘excused. herself from atten-

dance at certain meetings. She:
cognized on those occasions -

that it would nor be appropri-
ate for her to be present... I
“can find no direct or indirect
pecuniary. interest which
‘ould cause her to be in con-

(es ee =
Justice Williams also noted
that Sharp had not voted on
caiididates for the post of fire

affair was “disgraceful.”
He will not, however, be

_ asking council to pay for his:

$18,000 legal costs. ;
To press time, Sharp was
not available for comment.

chief,’ and that her. husband”

“was at any rate “neither cligi-

ble nor interested in the job.” -.

Fearnley was, ordered .to
‘pay — $9,000 of ~ Sharp’s
$23,000 legal costs.
id:

se Sat Coun. Darrell
»Mussatto, “Barbara Sharp was

cting inher normal, legal,

‘expected duties as.a council-

Jor. Bob Fearnley was not. We
. Hot expected te go out

and tile fawsuits.” :
Sharp and. Fearnley with-

drew from chambers during’

fuesday’s vote.

Fearnley said yesterday ;

this, and this bylaw means
those two people can’t. That
scems an overreaction.”

Many of the neighbours’
concems, she said, were based
on false assumptions.

BR Any mini von

Bi 720 Marine Dz, North Van __ North Shore owned &

oUbpee pick-up K drop off anywhere on the North shored. &

MAXX New York patent bag $145
Unisa Patent Slingback $98, redor black

MAXX New York Python Print bag $98
France Mode “Serpent” toafer $140,

a Ist. Van

4-4514

red, white or navy

Kenneth-Cole New York ..
Bowling Bag $225, red or cement

Kenneth Cole New York .
Slide Black or White $210...

Located at Orquidea
1441 Bellevue Ave., West Vancouver.
925-202 a

At eee name ane eee eae

wee ae A Ne et ee ee a a nan on nO rem