An asphalt pad is causing quite a stir in the Town of View Royal.

The Town is in the process of installing the pad for a basketball court at Chancellor Park and that has left many unhappy. Residents brought their concerns before council at TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 meeting.

Santina Spencer asked council for more clarification on why the public wasnB次元官网网址檛 notified of proceedings.

B次元官网网址淲e have received some conflicting information from different departments at the Town of View Royal,B次元官网网址� Spencer said. B次元官网网址淲e would like some clarification, more specifically, how this decision was made, was there any opportunity for public consultation B次元官网网址� as we as residents in the area were not aware of any B次元官网网址� [and] why there was no public notification regarding what work would be done.B次元官网网址�

Spencer added there are many young children in the area that use the park on a daily basis and something geared toward that demographic would be better suited for the location.

Mayor David Screech said the plans for a basketball pad in Chancellor Park have been in the works for years.

B次元官网网址淓ver since that park was bought in 2002, there was discussions even at that point of putting a basketball pad in the park,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淐ertainly, over the years weB次元官网网址檝e discussed it.B次元官网网址�

Angela Hanes also expressed her concerns over the project, noting it is a popular area for cyclists. B次元官网网址淲here the pad is laid out, it is dangerously close to the Galloping Goose.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淏eing a cyclist, if it is intended for basketball or other things where there could be body checking or throwing a ball at somebody, I worry about the safety of the Goose because that is a huge commuter route. If weB次元官网网址檙e looking at it long term, we have to look at safety as well.B次元官网网址�

The basketball net will be eight metres off the trail when finished and will also feature a hockey net with a six foot fence on the backside of the net.

Chancellor Park is approximately 3,000 square metres in size. The pad itself will equal five per cent of the parkB次元官网网址檚 area for a total of 150 square metres.

Coun. John Rogers suggested the project be put on hold so the public can be consulted.

B次元官网网址淚 think it really alludes us to respect the role of the community and hold any further development of the paving and give us time to take a second breath and consult with the community and see what their views are about this amenity so we can really make sure this is an amenity the community really wants,B次元官网网址� he said.

Screech agreed public consultation could have been better with residents in the community.

But added, B次元官网网址渕y feeling would be more of letB次元官网网址檚 finish it, itB次元官网网址檚 gotten this far and letB次元官网网址檚 make a commitment to evaluate it in a year and see what it is. When contracts have been awarded, I canB次元官网网址檛 see stopping it although I do agree that the consultation with the neighbourhood should have been better.B次元官网网址�

Councillors Ron Mattson and Aaron Weisgerber also agreed the project should continue and public consultation should be reviewed.

Staff also noted that if it is determined the basketball and hockey net is not viable, they could replace them with benches and/or picnic tables and permanent four square and hop-scotch activities for younger children.

Council voted down RogersB次元官网网址� motion to halt construction.

B次元官网网址淚 think collectively, we made a mistake,B次元官网网址� Screech said. B次元官网网址淚 apologize for that and we will follow up in a year after itB次元官网网址檚 done.B次元官网网址�

Like us on and follow us on