Klahanie residents ask politicians for upgrades

‘By Deana Lancaster

News Reporter deana@nsnews.com

THEY weren’t just out for an afternoon stroil.

West Vancouver Mayor Pat Boname, North Vancouver District Mayor Don Bell and West = Vancouver-Capilano MLA Jeremy Dalton joined a - group of seniors on Wednesday’ afternoon for a jaunt around * the North Shore access to the

Lions Gate Bridge. :

‘The seniors, who live in Klahanie Park Lodge north of the bridge access, wanted to show the politicians what they have to contend with to get beyond the bridge and over to Park Royal. '. “Tr’s unsafe,” said June *. Somers, the Kiahanie resident _- who organized the event. “We ~ want to make sure that pedes- trian access is high on the pri- ority list when they make a . “decision about the bridge.” _. The designated route is a daunting prospect for anyone using it, but when wheelchairs . and scooters are thrown into : the iat it becomes downright

meN een leading from the “housing complex to the side- walk encircling the bridge access is soggy and uneven. ‘There are no lights iiluminating it in the dark winter evenings. “It’s really very frightening late at night,” said Somers.

. “What else can you do? I’m . Rot going to freeze up in my ching and not do any-

The sidewalk itself is even -

‘more frightening; it’s narrow,

slopes toward the road and has no sail or barrier to prevent someone falling into traffic.

“It’s a miracle there hasn’t been an accident,” Somers said. “If someone lost contro! of their scooter or wheelchair, there’s nothing they could do.”

Former N. Van. District mayor Marilyn Baker was out- voted by her council during Kiahanie’s planning process when she argued that the site was tantamount to sending the seniors out to play in the traffic.

AJ. Brown, another resi- dent of Klahanie, uses a “Lightwriter™ to communicate. On it she told the politicians of the difficulty using the sidewalk in the winter.

She said as weli as being slippery, the plow piles the snow high on the sidewalk, making it impossible for any-

onc to use.

The final -challenge of the trek is to get down to Marine Drive from the bridge access.

The designated path is short, steep and on Wednesday was covered with slippery leaves. The handrail is falling over and is overgrown by thick blackberry brambles.

Somers said the road the buses use to get on to the bridge is easier to negotiate, especially for someone in a wheelchair or using a scooter. But a hairpin turn makes it impossible for a bus driver to see someone coming down the road until the last minute?

The residents of Klahanie would like to see their trail

aved, lit and extended to Marine Drive’ behind the bridge access.

The problem is, while

Friday, October 31, 1997 - North Shore News —

trips unsafe

NEWS photo Mike Wakefleld

RITA Ramage, 96, takes a iook at the route seniors living near Lions Gate Bridge must travel to reach Park Royal without a vehicle. Politicians joined a group of seniors on Wednesday afternoon to examine the problem.

Klahanie Park Lodge is located an a thumb of West Vancouver land, the access road is under the jurisdiction of the Transportation and Highways Ministry —- and Somers hasn’t had much response from them.

She’s hoping the local

politicians will help her put the pressure on when the planning begins on the improved cross- ing.

In the meantime, she said, she’s wants maintenance to be done to repair the leaning handrail, cut back the bushes

Elegant Flea Market planned

A photograph published in Weljnesday’s News failed to mention the date for the 29th annual Elegant Flea Market presented by West Van United Church,

The event takes place 9

a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1 at the church located at 2062 Esquimalt Ave. in West Vancouver.

The sale features antiques, estate goods, hardware, cloth- ing, tools, jewelry and more.

The District-of North Vancouver.

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Advisory Planning Commission - considers and reviews matters relating to land use, planning and development.

Advisory Design Panel- reviews and makes recommendations !

on the design and site layout of proposed buildings.

Board of Variance - rules on applications for minor vari- ances for proposed buildings and additions.

Child Care Grants Advisory Committee - reviews applica- tions and makes recommendations on grants.

Community Services Advisory Committee- advises on social and cultural matters and programs and makes recommenda- tions on grants to community groups and agencies.

Customer Service/Quality Assurance Committee - reviews and recommends improvements to customer service.

and clean up the leaves.

All three politicians seemed sympathetic to their plight, although none made any immediate promises.

“It’s important that we take

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