HUNDER GRAVEL PIT

Today I picked up from the Elmira Post Office an envelope from the firm of Garrod*Pickfield Environmental, Minicipal and Planning Law. It was a notice directed from the Ontario Municipal Board to the lawyers for the proposed Hunder Gravel Pit located between Conestogo and Winterbourne. The Notice was an upcoming Prehearing Conference to be held Tuesday April 17, 2012 10:30 am. at the Township of Woolwich Municipal Offices, Council chambers located at 24 Church St. West in Elmira. For students of Elmira's environmental history, Stephen Garrod was the lawyer who represented the Township at two Environmental Appeal Board hearings concerning Uniroyal a little over twenty years ago. His partner's wife Barbara Pickfield was hired to give advice and counselling to UPAC/CPAC back in the 90's as they were foundering. The cause of their foundering was eerily similar to the problems today, being overzealous control of the committee by Woolwich Township officials. Further problems would include the blatant pro Uniroyal bias on the citizens committee in the early days. That much at least has changed for the better. This Prehearing Conference will deal with the normal issues such as Identification of parties, participants and issues. There will also be discussion of start dates and duration of the hearing.