Janet Mays

The race is on to “revitalise” the Springwood Town Centre. The key question is why the rush? 

Community consultation has been poor, with two “consultations” being held. The first was a “by invitation only” stakeholder session and the second session presented a series of predetermined options to the community via a formal Options Report.

Where was the actual consultation to determine the level of community support for revitalising the town centre? Where was the discussion with community members on the issues that Springwood is facing and what could be done to remedy them?

Again, the Council has driven an agenda which ends up fragmenting the community. Those for the revitalisation and those against. Had genuine community consultation taken place, perhaps this outcome could have been avoided.

Mountains residents have reason to be concerned about Council’s approach to large scale redevelopments. One only has to look at Lawson to see how you can divide a community and end up destroying village life.

For those of us not living in Springwood or Lawson, we need to take note. If it can happen in Springwood and Lawson, it can happen in any village. We should not rest easy.

Several of our current Councillors appear to be development crazy and subdue differing viewpoints by suggesting “people are negative” or stupid or both! This approach is unacceptable and these Councillors need to remember that the community has a right to express its viewpoint.

Development is a fact of life. Let’s just make sure we don’t lose our communities in the process.

For more information on the Springwood Revitalisation project go to www.springwoodforum.org