Re: Game, set and match (News, Feb. 5)
The coverage of the clay courts issue by the media seems to have been mainly one-sided in favour of the proponents.
The media coverage keeps referring to a consultation period of over two years, but that was mainly between the Cedar Hill Clay Courts Tennis Society, the Parks Department and certain community audiences that seemed to be primarily tennis players and their supporters. The media and Parks Department coverage during this period of time clearly leaned towards approval of the Society’s application.
For example, I recall that an article in the Saanich News just prior to the final meeting referred the reader to the Saanich Parks website that appeared to be a mere summary of the Society’s presentation. Little, if any, information was located at that site that summarized the position of the opponents.
The opposition group never got involved until the last four to six months prior to the decision because the residents, in general, were not previously made aware of what was underway. Once the proposal was generally made known, the group came together rather quickly with compelling arguments against the proposal.
There were many well-researched and thoughtful arguments against the project.
I didn’t hear a single opponent ever suggest they were against the sport of tennis. Many stated that they supported the sport and the facility proposed, but not in the Cedar Hill Park location which should remain open to the greatest number of residents.
Bob Chong
Saanich