Editor:

Put me down as an opponent to the concept of paving the Georgian Trail.

As a daily user of the trail, I believe paving will destroy much of the charm the trail holds.

It will most certainly lead to an increase in the vandalism we already experience.

Such vandalism now includes graffiti painting on signs and rocks, wanton burning of wood items, and a general littering that seems to worsen each year.

Perhaps a paved trail would benefit bikers, but it will be harder for many to walk, as a paved surface is harder on the knees, legs, and feet of many walkers, than is gravel.

A comment by a Collingwood councillor that "all world-class trails are paved" is

somewhat ironic, when one considers that, like all municipalities, the municipalities of Collingwood, The Blue Mountains and Meaford have many, many regular streets that are third-world in condition. I believe the finest nature trails in the world are all unpaved. The very word "trail" does not conjure for the mind the stark, ugly sterility of an asphalt strip.

It would appear that the concept is not a concept, and that a final decision is already made, with no public input, especially none from regular trail users. I suppose it also proves the point that there is always some form of taxpayer cash available for unnecessary, unwanted projects, while critical needs are postponed indefinitely.

Mike Robertson

Meaford