Re: Goldstream Avenue still ignored, Oct. 24, 2014.
Are Goldstream Avenue and traffic concerns in Langford really being ignored? If so, why would Mayor Young and council have bothered to construct the Leigh Road interchange at all?
If traffic concerns are being ignored, would we have a beautiful downtown core which encourages pedestrian traffic? Would we have the beautiful tree-lined avenue that is Veterans' Parkway? (I had heard that the province had no plans for trees along Veterans' Parkway until Mayor Young stepped in!) Would we have miles of bicycle lanes, sidewalks and trails for public enjoyment?
I think the only things being ignored by this letter writer and your newspaper is that a small clique of residents living at the western end of Goldstream Avenue - some of whom are seeking political office, and some of whom have even sold part of their property for the District 49 development - are grinding their axes and trying to smear their political rivals by suggesting that a speed zone on Walfred Road was somehow improperly established. I find this sort of political tactic to be beneath contempt.
I drive Walfred Road and Goldstream Avenue on a regular basis, and I can tell you that the 30km speed limit leading up to Jacklin Road is entirely appropriate given the configuration of the road. Also, I can't imagine that it is possible to establish such a speed zone unless it is duly considered by staff, committee and council. Perhaps there should be a moratorium on spending any more money on the westerly part of Goldstream Avenue until residents in that area learn to park properly and not make improper, and in some cases illegal, use of their driveways.
As I see it, Goldstream Avenue is the current exit from the TransCanada highway to the west end of Langford, and it will obviously be closed when the southwest ramp at the Leigh Road Interchange is completed, either by the province or by the developer of the District 49 lands.
For what it's worth, I say let Stew and the Crew continue to do all that they do, and without further ado.
David Parsons, Langford.