Town, Region apologize for letter sent in error

Trails committee member Jane Fogal apologized to the residents of the Mary St. and Princess Anne Dr. area who feared a woodlot trail was being blazed behind their homes through the Claude William woodlot, the location of the Region's water pumping station. The residents received a Halton Region letter last fall notifying of woodlot pruning that also mentioned the possibility of the Town-operated trail. That prompted a 24-name petition to be sent to the Town. The residents cited security concerns, decreased property value, lack of privacy, unnecessary destruction to wildlife habitat and a lack of consultation. "There needs to be an apology to the neighbourhood who mistakenly got the note from the Region," said Fogal, the Wards 3&4 Regional Councillor at a recent council meeting. "What really happened was that the Town had asked the Region if would they consider permitting a walkway and the next thing we knew it was in this letter that there was going to be a walkway." She said people rightfully got their backs up because there was no consultation, adding there was no consultation because it wasn't being contemplated. "They (the residents) don't need to worry at this time; we don't even have a budget it for anyways," said Fogal. "At the time we do contemplate it, there will be full public consultation." The Region and the Town will notify the residents of the error.