Dear Editor:
I read with bemusement the letter from Cheryl Tainsh in the June 10 issue. She lives in a building located between the railroad tracks and the river, and has the audacity to complain about train whistles, shunting and squealing brakes, all of which are a fact of life if you choose to live near railroad tracks that have been there for over 100 years – they were there long before she chose to move in.
She also complains about the Bosa project pile driving from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – that is a normal construction workday, and meets the city’s construction noise bylaw No. 6063. She makes a statement that the traffic helicopter goes overhead at 6:30 a.m.– that does not happen every day in my experience. She complains about mowing, leaf blowing and garbage truck collection – would she prefer unmown grass, leaves all over the sidewalk, and garbage piling up and causing a health hazard to her and her neighbours?
She complains that “on Sundays, people are allowed to run power saws on their balconies” – once again, a permitted activity under bylaw 6063.
She asks when people are supposed to sleep – I would suggest that the prohibited noise hours of 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. should give a reasonable person plenty of time to sleep.
She complains that council will approve Plaza 88 Tower 4 for construction – not soon in my opinion, based on their track record of changing the rules after permits have been issued.
You may have noticed that “complain” is a common thread throughout her letter. I respectfully suggest that some people spend their lives finding things to complain about, while most other spend their lives enjoying the wonderful city we live in.
John R. Wood, New Westminster
