A “Flash Mob” bullies the Sooke Council at the March 11 meeting and once again, get council to do their work in the form of grant searching, which apparently it cannot cope with in spite of a generous public-money grant. If the Bike Park supporters are unable to cope at this early stage, one can only wonder how will they organize and manage the reported $300,000 plus cost of this industrial-type playground?
Now Mayor Milne argues that council should not be showing favouritism in granting assistance to any petitioning organisation yet this has been clearly done. The proposed “public- input “ on the matter, he states, will probably take place in May, which seems rather strange in the timing of procedure. Interesting that a mountain biking symposium is to be held at the Prestige Hotel in the latter days of that month; will this have any effect on public opinion?
This issue surely needs to be dealt with firmly and a mature decision made by our council, now. Clearly, the majority of taxpayers support the establishment of a Bike-Skills Park in the municipality but not in the pristine John Phillips Park. Is our council clearly listening to this majority opinion? Is it going to stand firm on this simple issue and protect this heritage park for all people? Or is it going to continue to be pressured by a small, well-organized pressure group and ultimately grant its demand?
I suggest that Sooke council show some needed guts and common-sense in dealing with this sad saga by plainly not offering any more municipal monetary or administrative assistance to this group and by publically declaring that John Phillips Park is not suitable for this proposed use and also by reclaiming the grant money from the applicant.
I believe that, like me, many taxpayers are getting tired of council fumbling this issue and I would advise council that the taxpaying electorate in Sooke will not forgive the denigration of this green park , in any form.
E. A. Anderson,
Sooke.