Langford is mulling its place within West Shore Parks and Recreation as frustrations mount from political infighting and conflicting priorities at the Colwood-based complex.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been the elephant in the room for a while now,B次元官网网址� announced Metchosin Mayor John Ranns at the West Shore parks and rec annual general meeting on June 23. B次元官网网址淚s Langford in or out?B次元官网网址�

LangfordB次元官网网址檚 possible exit from the West ShoreB次元官网网址檚 largest recreation complex has circulated through the municipal rumour mill for months and years, charged by conflict at the board table and underscored by LangfordB次元官网网址檚 drive to build City Centre Park.

Langford Coun. Lanny Seaton confirmed Langford has held informal talks about pulling out from the owner group.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e talked about the possibly of walking away from Juan de Fuca because weB次元官网网址檝e done our own recreation on such a dramatic scale,B次元官网网址� Seaton said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely not something weB次元官网网址檝e made a decision on. ItB次元官网网址檚 something weB次元官网网址檝e talked about because over the last few years, working here has not been fun.B次元官网网址�

The 110-acre recreation facility is owned by Langford, Colwood, Metchosin, View Royal, Highlands and the Juan de Fuca electoral area, and all pay an annual requisition based on population. Of the $4.45 million gleaned from the owners in 2011, Langford paid about half, or $2.2 million.

But friction arises through the owners having an equal vote on capital spending despite having vastly different population sizes.

Ranns pointed out Langford is in B次元官网网址渢he position of paying twiceB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� at West Shore parks and rec, and then for its own stadium, turf fields and a ice rink and bowling complex, funded through loans and government grants.

B次元官网网址淟angford supports a very large variety of recreational opportunities and pays the lionB次元官网网址檚 share here,B次元官网网址� Ranns said. B次元官网网址淚t continues to underscore the inequity ... there is a fundamental unfairness.B次元官网网址�

Langford Mayor Stew Young said he doubts the City would abandon WSPR, but said the politics behind building and upgrading facilities is frustrating and onerous.

B次元官网网址淭he governance at Juan de Fuca is too convoluted. There are roadblocks put up by other municipalities,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淟angford wants to build recreation facilities for families and thatB次元官网网址檚 not happening fast enough at JDF.B次元官网网址�

A proposal some years ago to build an indoor velodrome and fieldhouse, and then a proposal to build a stadium and turf field on the velodrome site prompted angry clashes at the board table and ownerB次元官网网址檚 meetings, usually with Langford and Colwood facing off against Metchosin.

Heated conflict also arose during construction of Bear Mountain arena almost a decade ago and the weight room expansion last year.

Young contends, as does the recent capital planning consultant report, that the velodrome site takes up too much space for too few users B次元官网网址� the land would be better used as sports fields.

Metchosin, among others, argues the velodrome helps provide a broad spectrum of recreation. Metchosin councillors were key players in getting it reopened this summer after being fenced off for almost three years.

Young said if WSPR become intolerably bogged down in politics, Langford taxpayers may demand the City pull out.

B次元官网网址淒own the road it might be residents saying B次元官网网址榳hy are you spending $2.2 million per year down there?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚n the end it wonB次元官网网址檛 be politicians deciding, it will be the people telling us what to do.B次元官网网址�

WSPR owners have long recognized its governance structure can be dysfunctional and canB次元官网网址檛 reconcile philosophical and personal differences between different municipal leaders.

The group agreed to hire a consultant to review the co-ownerB次元官网网址檚 agreement, which is up for renewal at the end of 2011.

B次元官网网址淭here has been conflict and hard feelings, but I think there is an opportunity here to build a different model,B次元官网网址� Ranns told the ownerB次元官网网址檚 group. B次元官网网址淭he window is now to get together to look at a positive resolution.B次元官网网址�

Ranns suggested a model where Langford doesnB次元官网网址檛 give up ownership rights, but walks away from participating in overseeing operations.

He said Langford could pay 50 per cent of its requisition, recognizing its citizens will still use the West Shore facilities B次元官网网址� of the 7,700 pass holders, 40 per cent live in Langford.

Under that plan, WSPR would lose about $1 million per year.

B次元官网网址淭hat would step us back two years in the budget, but I think we could survive that, B次元官网网址� Ranns said.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com