Good to see common sense regarding access gate, says reader

To the Editor:
“Great Gate Debate is much ado about nothing, yet again”

Thank you to Kincardine council for keeping the agreement as it stands, regarding the emergency access gate at Upper Lorne Beach Road and Victoria Street in Inverhuron.

If the roads are closed due to inclement weather and the OPP is asking motorists to stay off the roads, why would the gate be open to allow people to just go into town?

We have lived here for 20 years and in that time, we have not had a snowstorm that we were not warned about. So, you get in the supplies you need, you make sure your children have somewhere to go for the night in case you cannot get home; if there is an emergency at home, call 911. Any incoming snowstorm should cause us to use our common sense and be prepared. I know my family makes sure all bases are covered when the forecast is calling for snowstorms.

I know it would be great to get home, relax and but your feet up. This does not happen all the time. Over the past three years, we have been storm-stayed in Toronto on two different occasions due to our roads being closed and this year, in Elora for two nights as Highway 9 was closed while we were driving home. 

Inconvenient, yes; extra money out of pocket, yes; but we were safe off the roads and we knew all was well at home as we had a plan in place in case this happened.

The policy in place for that access gate, works well and any emergency service that needs to get through the gate to save a life or put out a fire, can do so. Far better than a few years ago when the only option was the B-Line which was a little better than Highway 21 but bad enough our emergency service personnel were putting their lives in danger.

Again, thank you, for letting common sense remain regarding the gate.

Regards,
Peggy Griffin
Kincardine