Regarding proposed early childhood learning centre: Crofton
A report in your newspaper with regard to the proposed early childhood learning centre on Berridge Street in Crofton does not clearly express the serious concerns raised by residents who will be immediately affected by the facility in this particular location.
The affected residents on Berridge, Dyke, and Adelaide Streets are unanimous in favour of a childcare facility in Crofton and have expressed their support to North Cowichan council at the two meetings we recently attended.
This particular location however is particularly problematic due to the specific location at the foot of the street — Berridge — that also serves as the main feeder route for the park. Berridge is a rural road that is dead end. At the end of the street off Crofton Beach Park is the main parking lot for visitors to the park.
The 192 estimated vehicle visits to the park daily will cause chaos as it will necessitate vehicles to turn around in the dead-end rural street. This will affect current on-street parking as well as critical circulation patterns for pedestrians and drivers who use Berridge to access the Crofton Beach Park and boardwalk.
Vehicles leaving the Crofton Beach parking lot will be restricted in leaving over the drop-off period for children. This will be compounded in icy conditions on both Berridge and Adelaide streets. Over the summer period which is busier for the park, the facility will continue to operate compounding the counter-flow traffic situation.
Other adverse impacts have been set out clearly to council but these have been ignored as they have committed to the current location without fully assessing the traffic impact of this particular location.
As Berridge is the main access route for pedestrians and vehicles accessing and leaving the iconic boardwalk and the heart of Crofton itself it is not surprising that almost all residents on Berridge oppose this particular location due to the potential gridlock that will inevitably result.
The Crofton Community Centre was touted as a potential location for this facility which has none of the above complications and could have been easily renovated at a fraction of the cost of what is proposed on Berridge Street.
John Ivison
Youbou
