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Writer defends vision for Main Street bridge

Re: Robert Batting’s letter in the April 12 EVN .
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Writer defends vision with Main Street bridge. File image

Re: Robert Batting’s letter in the April 12 EVN.

When I wrote a letter to the editor expressing my support for the Main Street Bridge, I certainly didn’t expect such a snide personal attack to appear in the paper a few weeks later.

Mr. Batting suggests that because our home and property is on the West Side that is the reason for my position, i.e., blatant self-interest. In fact, our property is accessed from the TransCanada Highway, not from Old Spallumcheen Road, so it is the highway widening that will most likely adversely affect us – and this will occur regardless of which option is chosen.

However, I do have self-interest at heart. As a citizen of Sicamous I would very much like to see our town become something of which we can all be proud, with a vibrant and bustling Main Street.

The sign that was posted on that run-down vacant shop on the empty end of Main Street asking us to ‘Save our Main Street, say no to the bridge,’ is the best argument for the bridge and the activity it would bring to downtown.

Do you remember Revelstoke’s downtown revitalization in the 1980s? In spite of overwhelming opposition from merchants and citizens alike, the council of the day recognized the need for it and pushed it through. How many of the merchants and citizens would say now that it was a bad decision?

I am not going to get into a point by point tete-a-tete with Mr. Batting. He is presenting his conjecture in as negative a light as he can to support his position, as is his right. I wonder how much self-interest is involved there?

He says that my vision is ‘just short of utopia, an idyllic scene of happiness and gaiety.’

Well, I’d much rather be that than the troll under the bridge.

Rick Charleston