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PAGE 4,WEDNESDAY.JULY 16, 1975, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby ServIng Over 27,000 Readers.r Published every Wednesday* Assistant Editor- Blake Purdy Contributing Editor - Jim Quail Production Manager - Marie Burgess Display Advertising Manager - Robin Lyon Clessifled Ad Manager - ' - Shelley Crowley Voîce of the 'County Town Box 206, WhilbY Mpiling Permit No. 29Ul, Phone 668-6111: torontd Mike 1Burgess, publisher-ManagiflgEditor. Une 2210 Pickering rail uIine should not be relocated Dear Sir; On June l2th 1975 a Consulting Firm released four proposais for the relocation of the C.P.R. rail line that crosses the planned Pickering Air- McEwe n 1from page 1 the circumstances. If the region owned industrial land, then they- are in competition with Oshawa. 'If the region owned industrial land in every munficipality, then they've got the equally diffi- cuit problem of deciding in which municipality to seli industrial land and at what price. The region even tried to devlop a policy where industrial land was purchased by the region and the cost charged back to the local rnunicipalîty ýand any profits retained by the region. Al the province has* done is transferred the competi- tion frorn the local councils for industrial development to the rçgional council. Votes at, die regional level are port site. Although the Federal Goverment has expropriated 18,000 acres, these proposaIs would require the taking of mor e private lands. This fact is shocking to those who are the threat of expropriation but under future there is another side to the story which affects ali taxpayers. Firstly the cost will be on! regionalgov 't apportioned oe nne bas- each level ot goverment will is of existing assessment," he jealously guard its authority:' said. "The municipality should purchase a reasonable size parcel in town and punch a road through to move traffic. Since the land in question is industrial, the munîcipality can only purchase the road allowance. A better use of public funds would be to purchase the whloe parcel and seli the resulting new industrial frontage." Mr. McEwen feels that "The solution to the problem is that the local government has to be given a uthority to also purchase industrial land. This won't be acquired easily for itl s my experience that 'The Town of Whitby is preparing its new officiai plan for the downtown area and I wouid urge the chamrber to invite a representative of our Planning Department to add- ress you on this subject. This plan suggests a low building profile for downtown with a maximum building height of 5 floors. 1 cannot sce any change occuring downtown with this restriction. It is mny experience- that if you don't give the planners some objectIon, they get to think- ing they are doing a good job. 1 cail upon the chamber to generate interest in this plan," he concluded. very'high in the taking of more private lands at to- day's prices. The new rail line would impose level cross- ings on from six to twelve new local roads. These crossings are very dangerous for the public even if aIl are equipped with costly flash ing sig- nais. There would be from three to f ive grade separ- ations (bridges over or tunnels under) at major roads. These separations are very expensive because of massive earth moving or cutting re- quired. The new track would have to cross a valley just south-east of Claremont, which is about 125' ft. deep and would need 'an 800 ft. trestle bridge.- Trhe cost of this type of structure is staggering. Because of the remov- aI of the track from Claremont, any business that requires bulk ship- ments by rail would have to be relocated into what is now agricultural-zon-Sd land. The cost of this and also the relocation. of the present station would be at. public expense. If the- track remains on the site of the pro- posed Airport, none of the inconveniences and environmental 'problems or unnecessary waste of tax dollars will occur. For almost two years, behind the scene meet- ungs have taken place to plan the new rail Uine but apparently little or no study was done on retaining the line within the Airport boundary. There is no justifica- tion for this blatant' as- sault on the public purseý. Someone must answer for this outrage. Vours truly, Ken Spratley ,Kinsale Road, R.R. No. 1 Brooklin, Ontario Sen d le tters to: Box 206, Whitby .........