January News

Medway Valley Heritage Forest Environmentally Significant Area

The Conservation Master Plan Phase 1 final report will be presented to an advisory committee to City Council on January 15^th at about 5 pm at City Hall, 2^nd floor.  The consultants will present their findings.  Later in January or February, the city staff will provide an information report to City Council’s Planning and Environment Committee (our Councillor, Phil Squire is a member of that Committee).  Further information about public meetings and the Local Advisory Committee will be forthcoming. 

The focus of the Plan to date has been on identifying areas that are appropriate for trails and which are not based on the environmentally sensitivity.

Talk on “Medway Valley Heritage Forest: A Special Environmentally Significant Area”

As part of Nature London’s Nature in the City series, there will be a talk on the Medway on Tuesday, February 17 at the Central Library starting at 7 pm:

Medway Valley Heritage Forest: A Special Environmentally Significant Area

Medway Creek flows through beautiful woodlands, beneath high bluffs, past rare plants and over endangered mussels. Greg Thorn, of Western University, introduces the amazing features and residents of this fragile and secluded place and urges appropriate protection from the pressures of recreation and development.

Sherwood Forest Public School Site

The property is now owned by the City of London which will be responsible for maintenance.  The planned demolition of the buildings is moving along through the city processes and staff will be asking City Council to approve the tender award early this year.  After demolition, the site will be leveled and the area will get new topsoil and hydro-seeded with grass seed.

In the meantime, if you see any unusual activity (such as lights on in the building), the city security team will be the first point of contact (unless of course, it is an emergency when 911 is still the call).  The City Security Operations Centre can be reached at 519 661 2500 ext 4577.

City Budget

Some items in the City budget of interest to our area include:

• No money is budgeted for 2015 for developing any amenities in the park space at the Sherwood Forest School site.  It is anticipated that this will be part of the proposal for the development of the entire site that will be through a Request for Proposal sometime this year.

• The capital budget is calling for a busy road construction year in 2016.  Intersection improvements at Sarnia and Western Roads are proposed.  This would include a double turn lane for westbound traffic coming from northbound Western Road.  Also in 2016, the widening of Sarnia from Wonderland to Sleightholme is proposed.  You will know the work is imminent when utility poles are relocated (which is supposed to take place this year).  And looking ahead to 2018, Western Road from Platt’s Lane to Oxford is in the schedule for being widened in 2018.

There are a number of ways to learn more about the city budget and to have your say.  The City invites residents to learn more about the 2015 budget and become involved in the budget decision-making process.

Budget Information Session
Where: City Hall, Council Chambers, 300 Dufferin Ave
When:  January 12, 2015 at 4 p.m.

Build a Budget Workshops
Participants can learn and ask questions about the City’s budget process, talk to the City Treasurer, express their opinion about the budget, and prioritize the services that matter most to them.

Where: Goodwill Industries, 255 Horton Street East
When:  Session 1 – January 14, 2015 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Session 2
Sign up available at http://ldnbudget2015.eventbrite.ca – January 17, 2015 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

There is also a survey at http://buildabudget.ca/strategicplan.html

Public Participation Meetings
Members of the public are invited to provide input for the City of London’s Budget.  Those who wish to make a presentation at either meeting can call 519-661-2500 x4599.

Where: City Hall, Council Chambers, 300 Dufferin Ave
When:  January 15, 2015 (water and wastewater) January 22, 2015 (property tax) & February 19, 2015 (property tax) all meetings start at 4 p.m.

Police Public Business Plan Consultation Summary

A summary is available from the London Police Services of its city wide public consultation meetings that took place this fall.