LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Why not have plebiscite on arts centre?

 If we’d received this letter, we, as a community, would have been enjoying this wonderful facility for approximately five years now. Didn’t happen. I stopped voting, as did many others, for the individuals who voted against said letter. 

Now 10 years later we are still at odds over an arts centre. The town has decided a new centre should be located at the site of the Collins Street parking lot and they have made it VERY clear that what they’ve decided is pretty much written in stone. By building there, certain things will have to be given up such as a practice stage, a designated parking lot, etc… On top of this, their decision will see patrons once again parking on surrounding streets.

We’re going to lose parking spaces currently available at the Collins Street parking lot. Who is being shortsighted now? Our Main Street is looking fabulous due mainly to the façade program. But where are citizens going to park with such a large amount of parking deemed to be removed? Of course most people go to malls to shop; there’s always parking available.

This issue has grown so contentious that I and many others I’ve spoken to will not be voting for members of town council who are in favour of this when the next election comes. With so many people on both sides of this issue, wouldn’t a plebiscite of all eligible voters in the tri-counties be a good way to decide this issue once and for all? Why should Yarmouth town council have all the say when residents of both the town and surrounding counties are the ones to use and attend this facility? Would it not be a gracious act to let the citizens make the final decision on where they want this new facility located?

Written with sincerity and hope.

Cheryl Burchell,

Yarmouth