There will be two new launch points built along the Millennium Trail.
Council in Prince Edward County approved two of four launch points to be constructed by the Prince Edward County Trails Committee during their regular council meeting on Tuesday night.
Karen Mouck of the Trails Committee spoke during the meeting and told councillors the committee have already raised over $128,250 for trail improvements and they are confident they can raise the additional approximately $60,000 needed to complete the four launch points.
The four launch points for consideration were at Salem Road (Consecon), Station Road (Hillier), Stanley Street (Bloomfield) and Lake Street (Picton).
Councillors had concerns with the Stanley Street and Lake Street launch points citing safety concerns related to traffic congestion and parking issues.
Councillor Jamie Forrester agreed more resting spots were needed along the trail, but not at Lake Street.
“I’m still looking here at the Lake Street launch point development plan; we have a disaster on our hands here if we go ahead with this. So if we just want to get on with it, that’s fine, but we’ll live with this for a long time, so be very cautious what we do here.”
Councillor Phil St-Jean lives on Stanley Street and says it is an inappropriate location for a launch point.
“I lived it all summer long, what it’s like on that street and to add one more point of intersection on that street, that we all know will become a traffic magnet.”
He then proposed the Stanley Street and Lake Street launch points be removed from the motion.
Nine councillors voted in favour of the removal of those two launch points.
Alternate locations for those two launch points were not discussed.
Council also approved the Prince Edward County Trails Committee to conduct additional fundraising in order to fund the capital cost of the new launch points.
