An 'incredible site': City resumes plans to redevelop Byron gravel pits
Nature trails, park land, how about an event venue? They’re all among the ideas being considered for the future of the Byron gravel pits in west London.
“We were talking about an amphitheatre,” said neighbour Cheryl Morrison. “A great thing to get people together. Use it for entertainment, for theatre, whatever they would like.”
London city hall is narrowing down possible uses for one of the most unique pieces of land in the city, which is now being rehabilitated.
Neighbour John Fragis said he’d like to see a space created where people can come together as a community.
“The city and developer can get together and build a component where people can get together, like Springbank Park,” suggested Fragis.
The 76 hectares of land with rolling hills, steep slopes and a pond was used as a gravel pit for 75 years, but has recently been decommissioned.
“If there is development there, and I’m sure there will be, they should consider nature first,” said neighbour Tony Parisio.
The unique property is owned by a number of parties, including the city and private developers.
The future of the Byron gravel pits is being discussed by the City of London. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)A report headed to a city council committee outlines possible future uses. These include passive recreation and nature appreciation, active recreation- including multi-use trails, or an event venue such as an amphitheatre.
London’s manager of planning and development, Bruce Page, described the site as “incredible.” He added, “The topography that’s there, the pond that’s there from the excavation is quite spectacular. It would be a shame to lose that. And I think it’s something that I don’t think any other municipality in Ontario or Canada would have.”
One thing the city staff report does not get into is the wildlife in the area. The Byron gravel pit has one of the largest colonies in Ontario of a protected bird species.
In 2020 a Western University migratory bird researcher estimated about 2,000 bank swallows breeding at the site. Now Brendon Samuels is hoping any future development plans include preservation.
“An area surrounding the densest part of the colony in the southern portion of the Byron gravel pit could be earmarked for conservation,” said Samuels. “An area could have a perimeter fence put around it and could actually be a destination for eco-tourism where people could come from all over to see one of the largest inland sites of breeding habitat for this rare bird.”
Page called it a “challenging situation,” but said they are working to address concerns about this rare bird habitat. “There are some considerations in terms of trying to preserve, or in the future trying to create a habitat for the bank swallows,” he said.
In the meantime, Page said the city will seek further public input on the future of the site, with a proposed option decided on next year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.