Editor, The Record:
Re: Festival organizers seek council help, March 29 edition.
When does no mean no?
Last summer, an application went in to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) for non-farm use of this farm property (northwest side Lougheed Highway and Nelson Street) for the Rockin River Festival, and was turned down by the commission. At that time MLA Randy Hawes was quoted in the paper that he would intervene of behalf of the organizers.
This land is some of the finest farmland in B.C., mostly class one soils, according to the maps, and has streams on the east and west. Having hundreds of vehicles and campers compact the soil, leak oil and gas and otherwise pollute the land is a gross misuse of this farm.
The story says the off-shore owner would give the organizer a 20-year lease. This would effectively prevent this land from being farmed for this time. The ALC, with their expertise and wisdom, said no, and now the organizer is appealing this decision, apparently with the support of council. When is no enough of an answer? There are more appropriate areas in Mission to hold this popular festival without destroying good farmland.
S. Barker
Mission