LETTERS TO THE EDITOR... Road `surgery' needed if school built

Dear editor, Re. School's out editorial (Feb. 22 Independent & Free Press). I attended the Region's meeting to oppose the amendment to permit a private school in an agricultural/ruralzoned area. I don't oppose the equestrian centre as its use is permitted. As noted in your editorial, there are many concerns. I would like to address a few. At the meeting the applicant's consultant said their traffic impact studies recommend the speed limit be reduced. This infers the Eighth Line under present conditions is already unsafe and with increased traffic will add additional risk. Exactly one of our concerns! I'm not a planning developer, but if a road is inherently dangerous, it would seem that things can be done to decrease risk. First, the speed limit can be reduced. The speed limit has already been reduced once on Eighth Line, yet I've seen speeding cars "airborne" over the knoll north of my driveway. Another solution is road improvements. Whether it is a public or a private school-- that is irrelevant-- that traffic would be substantially increased and safety becomes the relevant issue. With potential liabilities, the Town/Region may be forced to implement necessary road improvements: eliminating knolls, filling in valleys, etc. Who pays the millions of dollars needed for road improvements to accommodate this commercial business? Our school board has a policy which does not permit new schools to be located in rural areas. Policy criteria requires municipal services for water, sewage, main collector roads, etc. In other words, this criteria ensures safety is paramount for our children. The location of this facility does not meet the policy's criteria, and would never be considered at the proposed location. Private schools should have criteria to ensure the safety of others. The consultant feels that just reducing the speed limit would be appropriate to accommodate the school. More than 100 people and counting disagree. It's like using a Band-Aid when what's really needed is major surgery on the road. Arsenio Braga, Georgetown