By Barb Brouwer
Contributor
Columbia Shuswap Regional District directors will add their voice to a request for a reduction in the speed limit and an increase in no parking signs in Swansea Point.
A letter from Betty-Jean Sachro, president of the Swansea Point Community Association to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, was brought forward at the CSRD May 16 board meeting, which was held in Golden.
In the April 18 letter to Mike Scott, the ministry’s North Okanagan/Shuswap road area manager, Sachro pointed out the community, located on Mara Lake, is extremely busy in the summer, boasting public access to five playgrounds, beach areas, one with a Mobi-mat for mobility challenged visitors to get to the beach, along with a boat launch.
“There is no safe passage for pedestrians, with narrow roads and vehicles, particularly trucks and boat trailers, parked on both sides of the road,” wrote Sachro, noting there is currently no designated parking for them and no viable, affordable solution for a parking lot. “We believe that some measures could be put in place immediately, at less expense and would help to ensure the safety of pedestrians.”
The association recommended reducing the speed limit in the community to 30 km/hr from May 1 to Oct. 1 and installing “no parking” signs on both sides of Swansea Point Road, the main road coming into the lakeside community. As well, the association requests that parking be allowed only on one side of other roads in the community, avoiding driveways and intersections.
At the May 16 board meeting, CSRD Electoral Area E director Rhona Martin explained that she recently attended a meeting with Scott and members of the Swansea Point Community Association to discuss concerns.
“Although they were quite adamant that they did not think they could do anything about the speed limit, it was suggested that perhaps we write a letter and lobby, even if it’s for part time,” Martin said. “The problem is that in the summertime, you have children running in and among parked cars and boats and some of them are driving motorized things and it gets to be real mayhem there.”
Martin advised directors that the Swansea Point Community Association has wrestled with the problem for many years and has tried in the past to have the speed limit reduced for part of the year.
“This is another attempt to do so and I would ask the board to add their voice,” she said and the board was unanimous in doing so.
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