Langford issues coming up on CBC Radio
Posted by Steven Hurdle on September 23, 2009
Tomorrow (Thursday) Langford Fire Chief Bob Beckett will be discussing, on CBC Radio’s morning show, his plans for emergency services access to Bear Mountain.
Friday morning, I have been invited to discuss Langford issues on CBC Radio as well.
The time of the interviews is dependant on how busy a news day it is, but it was suggested to me that it might be during their prime-time, likely at 7:15am.
Interested people may tune in to 90.5 FM, or click here to listen to the online streaming feed:
http://www.cbc.ca/listen/streams/r1_victoria.html
Steven Hurdle said
Perhaps like many Inside Langford readers, I tuned in this morning interested in what Bob Beckett had to say, only for him not to be on. I just got off the phone with CBC Radio, and they informed me that “the Mayor’s office” suggested it was better he not discuss the issue with the media. I’m disappointed as I was very curious as to what the “Plan B” was now that interchange construction has been halted, especially given no alternatives had been suggested during the Spencer Road Interchange debate in 2008. In fact, it seemed to be suggested at that time that there were no potential alternative access routes available.
I will still be on tomorrow at 7:15am as scheduled.
Anonymous said
The Provincial Government has announced it’s infrastructure projects this afternoon. Nothing for Spencer Rd (which is what most people expected anyways).
Funding has been approved for the City Centre park although council now has to come up with $4M to pay for it.
The Gazoo reported today comments from both Beckett and the Mayor on fire access to Bear Mountain.
Puzzled? said
Let me get this right.
Langford’s Mayor Stewart Young’s office has issued a gag order to Bob Beckett (Langford’s Fire Chief) to not to speak to the media regarding the Spencer Road Interchange? Perhaps they’re trying to get their stories straight before they talk to the media? Or, that Mayor Stewart Young is trying to cover his behind. As you remember, Mayor Stewart Young used Fire Chief Beckett as his Lap Dog at last years’ council meeting trying to sell The Spencer Road Interchange to the Langford tax payers. Beckett stood up in the council chambers in support of the interchange. ” if their was a fire or a major disaster we wouldn’t be able to service the resident on the mountain.” When the septic truck flipped over on the Millstream north ramp about a month and a half ago and brought the traffic to a standstill for three hours, observers and passerbuyers were wondering why The Spencer Road Interchange wasn’t finished yet? Maybe the Mayor and Fire Chief should step down and let honest people run the show.
Steven Hurdle said
I was at that meeting as well, Puzzled, and heard the same thing you heard. However, it’s not a bad thing to want a secondary access to a residential development (Bear Mountain or otherwise), and as the Fire Chief it’s his job to ensure that emergency services vehicles can get where they need to go. Agree or disagree with him, I would never begrudge him doing his job. As a volunteer for Langford ESS (Emergency Social Services), I’ve interacted with Chief Beckett several times and he’s always been both extremely professional and very friendly.
The good news is that there may already be a secondary access to Bear Mountain. True, there may be only one in Langford but it is my understanding that there is a second one nearby in the Highlands (Bear Mountain is partly in Langford and partly in the Highlands, after all). I intend to try and confirm this in the near future.
Steven Hurdle said
Those who intend to tune in tomorrow, it’s been suggested that if we keep listening a little past 7:30 that there’ll be some more Langford content on CBC Radio (their political panel, apparently).
Anonymous said
I’d like to see better access to the Thetis Heights (Phelps) subdivision. It’s been around a little longer than Bare Mtn. has more trees, has tripled in development in the last decade yet lost two of it’s access ways. Locked gates don’t count.
Herman Surkis said
Locked gates truly do not count.
In an emergency, a firetruck will just drive through as if the gate was not there. In fact if it was a medical emergency a police car with a push bumper would open the gate.
Think I read somewhere that community locked gates may NOT be reinforced to the point that an emergency vehicle cannot get through. You do not want to know what happens to your car if you are blocking a fire hydrant in an emergency.
Hint: they don’t take the time to call a tow truck.