Web poll shows serious concerns about Bear Mountain Interchange
Open House at Juan de Fuca Library tomorrow expected to be packed
An online survey launched by environmentalists earlier this month shows overwhelming public support for protecting the cave, wildlife, and wetlands in the path of the proposed Bear Mountain Interchange in Langford. Organizers of a related Open House at the Juan de Fuca
Library tomorrow will take further comments and opinions between 6:30 pm and 9 pm, and the survey will run until October 18.
As of September 18, the informal survey had 140 votes on the future of Langford Lake Cave, with 119 (85%) saying the cave should be protected. The vote results on Spencer’s Pond and the Garry Oak meadow stand at 79% in favour of protection, and wildlife scored 80% approval.
The website at http://interchangeconsultation.blogspot.com is part of an independent community consultation on Langford Lake Cave, Spencer’s Pond, the Garry Oak meadows, and wildlife threatened by a new interchange just west of the current Spencer Road Interchange on Highway 1 in Langford. The controversial project has generated strong community opposition, including a group of environmentalists occupying a tree house and a tripod at the cave site to block the city’s attempts to seal off the cave or remove trees.
The consultation and Open House are sponsored by the South Island Land Use Network, Vancouver Island Community Forest Action Network, Coalition to Protect Goldstream Watershed, BC Environmental Network, and the Dogwood Initiative. Tomorrow’s Open House (Wed Sept 19, 6:30 pm at Juan de Fuca Library) will include short slide presentations about Bear Mountain, Spencer’s Pond and Langford Cave and public comments on environmental and cultural values.
For more information:
Zoe Blunt, 361-1876 or 885-8219, Pam Tudge, 217-3074, Eleanor McKinnon, 474-2715