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Letter to Editor
ShareBerwick seniors deserve crosswalk
Published: September 23, 2008 3:00 PMUpdated: September 23, 2008 3:06 PM
Dear editor,
My mom has been a resident at Berwick Comox Valley since it opened.
Berwick has supplied a true need to senior residents of the Comox Valley and is an outstanding facility.
The doctor’s office is directly across busy Comox Avenue from Berwick. The Town of Comox had obviously granted a building permit to Berwick as well as the doctor’s office. One would assume the council would realize the fact that there would be a lot of pedestrian traffic from Berwick to the doctor’s office.
Mom requires quite a number of visits across the street to the doctor. Fortunately, I am able to accompany her.
The road is usually full of parked cars on both sides and you have to advance through them to see if there is any traffic coming. I had read in the paper that the residents should use the crosswalk down the street by the library. A lot of residents at Berwick are not able to walk that far.
Many of the residents are also sight and/or hearing challenged and require a crosswalk with a light and sound. The schools are assured of the safety of crosswalks for children and our seniors deserve at least the same safety.
My mom worked until she retired at 65. She and most other seniors have made our province and our community what it is today.
Berwick residents make up approximately one per cent of the population of Comox and the taxes paid to the Town of Comox by this facility are huge.
Comox council should consider giving something back to the residents of Berwick, a crosswalk that I don’t believe is much to ask for.
I have read the engineer’s report. I do not understand the traffic study that was done in February. Obviously, there are not as many people out walking in February.
Were these people who were crossing the street illegally or those using the crosswalk by the library?
The report was concerned about the corner down by the Filberg Park. It is my understanding that this corner is quite a bit further from the proposed Berwick crosswalk than B.C. law requires. I am also under the impression that the sidewalk will be completed on the south side of Comox Avenue from the doctor’s office down to Filberg Park.
This will undoubtedly mean more pedestrian traffic on that side of Comox Avenue. Some of the folks from Berwick walk down to Filberg Park regularly and a crosswalk right out their door would be so much more convenient and safe.
Wayne and Verna Lemky,
Courtenay
