By Jennifer Lee
Residents hoping for safer streets near the Dalhousie Community Centre will have to wait.
A safety audit done in the area last October still hasn’t been presented to the city as a report because of a backlog in processing audit cases.
The Women’s Place and Women’s Action Centre Against Violence organized the audit.
“The safety audit will help people evaluate the safety of the physical environment and identify concrete changes needed to make the area safer,” says Ann Rose, a community worker at Women’s Place.
More than 20 participants walked in groups at night around the Dalhousie Community Centre, located at Somerset and Booth streets. They saw several safety hazards that they recommend should be changed.
They found some bushes and trees that need to be pruned to allow for better lighting. Another recommendation is to translate street signs into languages other than English and French, since the community centre is located in Chinatown.
But Arlene Gregoire, a city co-ordinator who processes safety audits, says other safety audits need to be processed before this one. Since October 1995, nine safety audits have been submitted to her. Two are completed, three are being processed and four remain.
“Ideally, only one safety audit should be co-ordinated at a time, because of the time and effort it takes,” says Gregoire.
The process is slowed down when safety audits don’t follow the criteria and steps the city asks for. Fifty per cent of the suggestions in one safety audit had incorrect locations and named businesses that had moved.
Gregoire told Women’s Place organizers that they should take their time to fill out the report accurately so that recommendations can be implemented faster. But she adds immediate problems, such as cracked sidewalks and burned-out lights, are looked after right away.
Safety audits are still valuable and useful for a community, says Gregoire.
“Safety audits are extremely effective in bringing a community together and making people more familiar with their neighbors and the area,” says Gregoire. “And for the city, it’s wonderful to get feedback from the people who live in the community.”
Myra Bolton, who lives in the area and volunteers at Women’s Place, says participating in the safety audit was an eye-opener.
“Before I did the safety audit, I didn’t have many concerns. But walking with a diverse group of people helped me notice things that have to be changed,” says Bolton.
Bolton says one participant who uses a wheelchair noticed things she never would have, such as sidewalk curbs that are hazardous for wheelchair users.
The safety audit report is expected to be completed this week.