Dear editor:

I would like to make reference to the excellent letter submitted by Victor Tarnoy in the July 23 edition of The Lake Report entitled, “Basements, the water table and trees,” referring to the  gigantic hotel development on the former site of Parliament Oak Public School.

In his letter, Mr. Tarnoy goes on to say, “The excavation and compaction and the required lowering of the water table will guarantee the eventual death of most, if not all of the existing century old trees  on the Parliament Oak block.”

He adds that the impact of lowering the water table will be “dramatic, long-lasting and negative.”  

Sadly, the evidence of Mr. Tarnoy’s prediction is already, clearly coming into focus.

One just has to take a look at the present condition of our iconic Parliament Oak tree on that site. The protective barrier around this tree is truly laughable.

Concrete trucks are draining and washing their excess concrete within feet of this tree. I will predict that unless some major tree intervention measures are carried out soon, this historic and legendary representative of the original oak tree will succumb to its demise before the ribbon-cutting  ceremony of this mega hotel development. It is probably already too late.

How sad that our present town council approved this very controversial development in the  heart of our historic community — in the face of mounting opposition from the electorate, and in the name of progress and the almighty dollar.

I would encourage The Lake Report to republish Mr. Tarnoy’s letter on an annual basis, to remind all of us and future town councils of the colossal planning blunder made when this project was approved.

Buddy Andres
NOTL