‘Protect and preserve’
Dear Editor:
Most Puslinch residents are aware of the “Puslinch by Design” study. Many have been involved right from the start. The County Official Plan, which serves Puslinch, applies to the study.
From day one we were told that the study was to be based upon local feedback. It stated that employment areas should be located in the right location to be compatible with the surrounding area. These commitments are being honoured.
Mary Lou Tanner of NPG Solutions led the project. She involved the community, treated everyone with respect and worked to develop solutions to any concerns she was hearing.
The consultant, Mayor James Seeley and councillors invited our participation in the process and truly listened. Public open house meetings were held. Seeley reached out asking for our position. Our input was valued and the fact that we all want what is best for our beautiful township was recognized.
We can protect our quiet rural communities and preserve the rural character of Puslinch by simply directing industry to the lands where it will do the least harm, the lands identified in the study – compromised lands, with rural character already lost that sit on busy roads built for and serving heavy traffic, sit near or adjacent to gravel pits and existing industry, while at the same time, directing industry away from those quiet country sideroads lined with farms, nature and little rural communities.
We can support industry in Puslinch and avoid needless destruction at the same time by ensuring that land use decisions protect and preserve what we, as stewards of the land, value most.
Puslinch residents greatly appreciate that the county and township have made this study possible, making certain that, together, we set a precedent and get this right by locating industry carefully and strategically, showing regard for the importance of our rural communities.
Donna and Jim Christie,
Puslinch
‘One-sided framing’
Dear Editor:
Some advocates and detractors of ASE (automated speed enforcement) cameras fail the public when they refuse to acknowledge the valid concerns of the other side.
Dave Adsett’s recent editorial (Reel it in, Aug. 14) raised important questions about process, but he also echoed familiar talking points used by ASE critics without recognizing that the cameras do help slow traffic.
This one-sided framing results in the kind of unchecked narrative we saw in Steve Di Pisa’s letter to the editor (Special placement, Aug. 28), which included comments that I think crossed the line of civil discourse.
Both sides – those for and against ASE – seem unwilling to admit what the evidence shows: road design influences how fast people drive.
Research consistently shows that for every additional foot beyond a 10.5-foot lane, vehicle speeds increase by about 1.6km/h, leading to higher crash rates regardless of the time of day. Belsyde Avenue in Fergus has 15-foot lanes. That’s an estimated 8km/h speed increase simply due to lane width.
Has the County of Wellington acknowledged this? Not publicly.
Yes, ASE cameras work – because there’s a financial penalty. But if we want the “softer” approach to speed reduction that Mr. Adsett advocates, it will require redesigning roads like Belsyde Ave., not having “functional times” for speeding.
Redesigning roads costs money. So why not use the revenue from ASE cameras to build safer roads – ones that don’t need cameras to keep speeds in check?
Perhaps that’s a point both sides can agree on.
John Scott,
Elora
‘Endemic’ speeding
Dear Editor:
There seems to be no end to the letters complaining about speed cameras in Fergus.
It merely proves how endemic the speeding problem has got when people complain about being caught. They try to call it by different names, other than breaking the law and being fined.
Dave Adsett’s editorial (Reel it in, Aug. 14) merely reminds us that bureaucrats never seem to get things quite right. Photo radar certainly makes drivers sweat, but does not really go far enough.
The radar units should be mobile and operating night and day at different locations around the town. As offenders improved their driving skills, or ran out of money, you would begin see a whole new world evolve, where calmness and safety would prevail everywhere.
Malcolm McCulloch,
Fergus
‘Exceptional effort’
Dear Editor:
Congratulations to the dancers of Dance and Heart in Centre Wellington for the award they received at Guelph Fringe Festival this year!
I couldn’t be more proud of an exceptional effort to deliver an all-new show, Emily’s Letters, which represented a lifelong friendship started at Salem Public School 30 years ago.
The team walked away with an award called “Praise the Ward Residency,” which was the only award given for a paid opportunity to show our work again.
Our art form is all about showing up for each other, taking risks, and connecting with the audience. A huge thank you to our local community who made the trip from Guelph to see our new piece, and share our love for dance. We are so excited to keep building.
Norah Wardell,
Elora
‘Resounding success’
Dear Editor:
On Saturday, Sept. 6, the Walk for PD (Parkinson’s Disease) event was held at the Fergus sportsplex.
This is a yearly fundraiser that supports the Parkinson’s Society Southwest Chapter. Funds stay in our communities to provide local support groups for individuals with Parkinson’s, support groups for caregivers, resources, webinars and conferences and ongoing research.
This year’s event was a resounding success, raising approximately $45,000. As with any event of this size it is not possible without volunteers. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers for their incredible contributions of time; our gratitude is hard to express.
Thank you also to the Fergus Pipe Band who led our walk along the path behind the sportsplex and through the forest trail. What great encouragement they provided and helped to motivate our walkers.
Thank you to Bill Longshaw of the Advertiser, The Grand 101.1’s Austin Cardinel and Centre Wellington Mayor Shawn Watters who all attended the event.
There was a large raffle table and silent auction items, all donated along with barbecue hot dogs and delicious fries with chili being sold with all proceeds going to the walk efforts.
What a great community! Thank you to all who participated to help support those in our community living with Parkinson’s.
Let’s hope we will one day find a way to slow the progression of this disease.
Lisa, Robert and Chris Ecclestone,
Walk for PD Committee