A back-and-forth game of political red tape could soon come to an end for one Ladner resident.
Tim Armstrong, who owns a home on 48A Avenue, has been dealing with provincial and civic authorities for years trying to determine who will maintain a large, overgrown hedge that now has some evergreens that are dying.
“I continually am directed to the municipality that says it is the provincial responsibility and then the province says it’s Delta’s problem. Who is responsible for the trees?” Armstrong asked. “I have trimmed the trees when they have encroached on my property, but the ivy has pulled down all the tree limbs. This is a long-standing issue and I just want to see it resolved.”
Armstrong said he is quite disappointed with the government system.
“All bodies are wanting to pass the buck and not do what is required in maintaining our community,” he added. “There is one dead tree by the Ladner entrance sign that has been like that for at least two years. Is this not a safety issue? Why has this not been fixed or cleaned up yet? I want something in writing and I want them to come back to me and tell me what will be done.”
After contacting the Optimist with his plight, Armstrong received another emailed response from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure late last week.
Area manager Dustin Bergstrom wrote that in “early 1986, the Ministry of Transportation was approached by the Corporation of Delta to request permission for the installation of the row of hedges to act as a landscaping buffer for the subdivision behind. In May, 1986 this permission was granted to the municipality with the condition that responsibility for maintenance would be retained by Delta. I do apologize for this frustrating experience — as the permit shows, the responsibility for maintenance lay with the municipality.”
Armstrong shared this correspondence with Delta and Delta South MLA Ian Paton, who is also a civic councillor.
Paton told the Optimist that he is well aware of the issue of maintenance of trees and hedges in that particular area as it borders both municipal and provincial boundaries.
“I had a meeting with staff at municipal hall and got back to Tim right away. I told staff we need to get on with this,” said Paton. “This response from the ministry clearly points out that it is Delta’s responsibility.”
Paton said he has asked city staff to follow up with the ministry and get the situation resolved.
“Staff will meet with all the neighbours to make sure everyone is on the right page and figure out how high the hedge should be, etc.,” he said.
