Richmond farmers say road building contaminating farmland
Advocate Ray Galawan blockades Finn Road property over concerns
CBC News
Posted: Jan 16, 2013 4:14 PM PT
Last Updated: Jan 16, 2013 8:59 PM PT
A group of farmers and supporters blocked the entrance to a Richmond, B.C., property Wednesday, saying they’re concerned about the potential contamination of farmland by a construction project.
Farming advocate Ray Galawan said he’s complained for weeks to city and provincial officials about an access road being built through the farm on Finn Road.
Galawan says the builders are using oversize pieces of concrete and piles of asphalt that will contaminate prime farmland and leave it barren.
The protesters say they are concerned about potential contamination of Richmond farmland. (CBC)"I've been going and phoning and phoning and phoning and basically I've come to the end of every avenue that I know to go."
The property was used as a business called Farmer Bob's Pumpkin Patch and is now being converted into a tree farm.
Galawan and others say the situation at the Finn Road property is a symptom of a much bigger problem — the slow death of farming in the area.
"This is all we've got left in Richmond,” said blockade supporter Jane Milina-Dunn.
Some have vowed to keep the entrance blocked until the rubble is removed.
The property owners say the criticism may be well-meaning, but is misguided, because they have all the necessary permits, are improving the property and will be using the access road to bring in topsoil.
The protesters say the broken up asphalt used as road fill could hold contaminants. (CBC)"We have done absolutely nothing wrong and frankly, this blockade, by well intentioned people I guess, is totally absurd," said Jones.
Inspectors say they have found no significant problems.
Jones said he has asked Galawant to move and he's refused, so his next step might involve using the courts to end the protest and blockade.
With files from the CBC's Tim WeekesShare Tools
Latest British Columbia News Headlines
- Vancouver link to Hadfield's space guitar
- A Vancouver company says it will re-start production of a guitar that was used by Chris Hadfield in space, prompting thousands of dollars in new orders. more »
- Nanaimo Facebook group takes aim at thieves
- Residents fed up with petty crime in Nanaimo have turned to social media to try to prevents theft. more »
- Bid to re-open Langley Speedway
- A Metro Vancouver committee is considering a proposal to re-open the Langley Speedway that closed almost three decades ago. more »
- Petition looks to rename Victoria Day
- A group that includes some prominent Canadian actors, writers and politicians is calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to change the name of Victoria Day. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Oklahoma tornado recovery work begins after dozens killed
- Rescue teams searched through the night in hopes of finding survivors after dozens of people were killed in a tornado16 kilometres south of Oklahoma City that flattened two elementary schools and many homes, but efforts have increasingly turned to recovery work.
more »
- Will alleged Rob Ford video overshadow Toronto casino debate?
- A debate about a proposed downtown casino is supposed to take centre stage at Toronto City Hall on Tuesday, but it seems a safe bet that a still-unseen video of Mayor Rob Ford will continue to be a topic of conversation. more »
- Harper to address Tory caucus amid Senate scandal
- Conservatives gathered Monday night to mourn the passing of a key architect in their rise to power — and to brace for the toughest test Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government has faced since taking office on a promise to clean up politics in the national capital. more »
- Keith Boag: Have you heard about the murderous abortion doctor?
- The gruesome trial and murder conviction of Philadelphia abortion provider Dr. Kermit Gosnell is unlikely to change American abortion law, Keith Boag writes. But it has U.S. journalists questioning their priorities and how they cover such a sensitive issue. more »
- Fearful Oklahoma families search for children
- The parents and guardians stood in the muddy grass outside a suburban Oklahoma City church, listening intently as someone with a bullhorn called out the names of children who were being dropped off — survivors of Monday's deadly tornado. more »
- B.C. man feared kidnapped in Mexico
- Canadian on EI shut out amid foreign worker influx
- Vancouver man attacked, killed in Costa Rica
- Vancouver link to Hadfield's space guitar
- Nanaimo Facebook group takes aim at thieves
- Petition looks to rename Victoria Day
- Bid to re-open Langley Speedway
- Public raising funds to buy alleged Rob Ford crack video
- East Vancouver residents in 'guerrilla gardening' campaign

