Proposed turnabout still causing headache
Owners of North Hill Shell and Pharmasave attended council on Monday looking for a change to the proposed turnabout and the way that people enter and exit both businesses.
Karen Currie appeared on behalf of Frank Wood of Pharmasave and Joshua Seo of the North Hill Shell.
“There are a number of problems with the proposal to close the entrances to these businesses,” said Currie.
“First, Shell Canada does not feel that a fuel truck could safely manoeuvre around the station in order to supply the station with fuel and if the right in entrance were closed it would restrict access of vehicles carrying 5th wheels and RVs and livestock trailers which constitutes about 40 per cent of his customers.”
With that, Ryan Bowen who is a representative from Shell Canada, then went on to say that if the access from Hewetson Avenue was to close that Shell Canada would have no choice but to cancel their contract with Seo because it would be unsafe for the fuel trucks to unload fuel.
“Health and Safety is a main concern with Shell and for trucks to manoeuvre around in the North Hill Shell parking lot would be unsafe for the truck driver and for customers who may be using the pumps,” said Bowen.
“We would have no choice but to cancel our fuel contract with Mr. Seo and I doubt any other fuel provider would take that risk either. So this decision would essentially close down that gas station and put Mr. Seo out of business.”
Currie then explained that delivery trucks were having a hard time delivering goods to the Pharmasave and to close the Hewetson turn off completely would hinder business at the pharmacy.
“If the Hewetson access is closed and customers going to the pharmacy miss Wentworth Street there is really no way to backtrack which means chances are they will drive straight to Wal Mart instead of going to Pharmasave,” said Currie.
Council debated on how they would handle the situation and decided that they would leave the right in entrance to the shell station and would allow right exit access as well.
Mayor Gary Mills felt that the impact on Seo’s business would be too much and felt that it was safer to allow access right in and right out.
“Those are huge fuel trucks and we need to make sure that safe delivery of fuel is possible,” said Mills.
Council also made an amendment to provide an additional lane leaving Shell if it was possible.
However council didn’t give Mr. Wood the same satisfaction and felt that there was more than enough room for the deliver trucks to negotiate around and make their deliveries.
“I think as council we should provide a sign stating to people that the only access to Pharmasave would be off of Wentworth,” said Mills.
“We don’t want to negatively impact Mr. Wood’s business. So I feel we should offer some assistance and with proper signage. People would get used to using the Wentworth turn off.”
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Posted By Debbie Houghtaling