I just want to add my voice to the sentiments expressed by Dwyn Roberts (Nelson Star, January 31, 2018),
I left my home in Vancouver 30 years ago because it had grown beyond the point of being a liveable city. Driving became a nightmare, short trips became long trips, cycling became dangerous, air was bad and parks were no longer quiet oases. More and more money had to be poured into making more and more roads to handle more and more traffic.
Of course the destruction began long before I left. At one time, one could cross Oak Street Bridge into Richmond and buy fresh berries and vegetables at the many small farms. Now Richmond is covered with malls, condominiums and houses. At one time, one woke up to a morning chorus (it is when all the birds start to sing to welcome the dawn), now there is silence, not just in Vancouver but here as well. Bird song has been replaced by the roar of traffic.
As the city grew the quality of life deteriorated.
An increasing population puts pressure on existing infrastructure, on what is left of the wilderness and on the other creatures who share this planet and who are fast disappearing; it results in more noise, more pollution and more congestion.
This is a nice town; let’s not destroy it with unchecked growth.
Rosemary Carter,
Nelson