Editor,

My wife and I live within a few minutes walk of the Georgian Trail. We use it in all seasons for walking, biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. We strongly object to the paving of the trail for these reasons:

- The shock absorbing effect of an unpaved surface is better for those who walk, jog or run.

- The unpaved trail requires minimum surface upkeep. We all know what frost does to pavement.

- The present surface is less slippery than pavement when the trail is wet and/or covered with decaying autumn leaves.

- The aesthetics of the trail experience are greatly reduced by the introduction of asphalt. Would we pave the Bruce Trail?

- Asphalt is oil based. Why introduce an environmentally unfriendly substance to a pristine environment?

- Just because grant money is available is no reason to spend money. Whatever happened to responsible stewardship?

- A great deal has changed since the trail opened in 1989. Paving the trail at that time may have seemed desirable. We do not believe that is the case now!

David and Fay Whitney

Meaford