City votes for the open road

BY ANDY BLATCHFORD

andy.blatchford@transcontinental.ca

Beaconsfield moved a step closer to reopening a street that has stirred anger among residents in two towns and landed the city in court.

James Shaw Street, in the city’s northwest sector, has been the centre of a dispute between citizens in the area and city council. “We feel that we have made the right decision for all of the citizens of Beaconsfield,” Mayor Bob Benedetti said. “I don’t expect the residents of James Shaw to agree with me, but we’re elected by everybody.”

On Monday, council voted 5-1 to open the road. James Shaw-area councillor David Pollock voted against the resolution.

In December, the city removed barriers to uncork the dead-end street. Days later, 10 neighbours, who fear the open road will become a vein for traffic heading to nearby Highway 40, won a temporary court injunction to reinstall the blocks. The injunction expires on March 12.

Residents in Beaconsfield, and neighbouring Kirkland, are concerned for the safety of children in the area.At a public meeting last week, fire and Urgences Santé officials said the street must be opened to allow quick response from emergency vehicles. A traffic consultant hired by the city to examine possible impacts in the area presented its final report Monday. The report concluded that nearby streets can easily handle any added traffic.

Benedetti said residents from other parts of northern Beaconsfield asked for James Shaw to be opened to alleviate traffic on their streets.

The James Shaw dispute has also crossed a municipal border.

Kirkland resident Mark Neiss said he will put pressure on his own council to keep the road blocked. “If Bob Benedetti wants to screw his own constituents . . . I guess that’s his prerogative,” said Neiss, who lives on Gerard Guindon Street, the road beyond the James Shaw barrier. “I’m certainly really annoyed at the fact that he thinks the people of Kirkland are a convenient solution to his Beaconsfield problem.”

Neiss said a fire or reserved lane could be installed to solve the disagreement.

Kirkland councillor André Allard has spoken publicly about keeping the road closed; however, Mayor John Meaney has backed Beaconsfield.