Crossroads

Wellington, as it looked at the turn of the last century. Those 100-year-old architectural lines and shapes remain easily recognizable today.

Residents to hold public meeting about future of Wellington’s main intersection

Pam Carter has spent many hours on Wellington’s Main Street, studying its people, shapes and colours. In every season. With her easel pitched on the sidewalk or under the shade of an accommodating maple tree, Carter is a careful observer of the unique and special character of Wellington’s Main Street. She knows just how fragile is the beauty of this streetscape.

Carter is leading the fight to stop a County plan to permanently erase two century-old buildings from the intersection of Main and Wharf Streets in Wellington. It is the village’s prime corner— indeed, it is the only traffic light between Carrying Place and Picton.

Together with Wellington resident Mike Harper, Carter is hosting a public meeting on July 23 at 6 p.m. at the Wellington Town Hall to let this community know what the County plans for Wellington’s main street, and what it means for the County’s heritage and vitality of its downtown core.

Carter has gathered many signatures from those who want the County to reconsider these plans. An online petition will gather dozens more.

She has a strong view about what should happen at these crossroads, but the purpose of the public meeting isn’t to promote a single view. The objective is to hear other voices—to give this community a means to have a say about what happens on this important corner. Something, she says happens too rarely in the County.

Mike Harper, too, believes a parkette at the main intersection of the village is a bad idea.

“The County is at a crossroads—both literally and figuratively—with its plans to demolish two buildings in Wellington,” said Harper. “Ultimately, we hope people will get behind our point of view to retain and restore the existing building or rebuild once rehabilitation to the creek is complete.”

Harper is pitching the July 23 public meeting as a way to let council know the full extent to which the public cares about this village—its history and its future.

“It is important to retain the retail, residential and historical attributes the buildings currently provide,” said Harper.

He hopes the County’s chief engineer will attend. The mayor and council members are also invited. But mostly, he and Carter want to give residents the opportunity to weigh in before a final decision is made—before the wrecking ball eliminates choices that belong to the residents of this community—the folks who live and work here.

“This meeting is for people who care about the history and vitality of Wellington’s commercial core, but also those who may be unsure or on the fence on the issue,” said Harper. “Perhaps we can offer a bit better understanding of what is proposed and what it means to the community and to taxpayers.”

County officials say they will host a public information meeting about the rehabilitation of Lane Creek and plans for a parkette or parking on the corner. No date has been set for that meeting.

For more information or to sign the petition go to: chn.ge/1LUgbbv