The Huron County representative on the Goderich-to-Guelph Trail committee admits they have had some communications problems.
Paul VanderMolen points to the news release from April that stated the trail would be open in July. He says the intended message was that the trail would be open at that time for them to start developing it as a public trail.
VanderMolen adds none of the sections they have leased are open at this time. They hope to sign the trailway agreement soon, and at that time some trails will be marked closed and some will be open for hiking.
VanderMolen also points out there clear advantages to having the trail managed by a group, instead of simply being open to the public. He says there is accountability from the people using the trail, and it's an opportunity for them to be pro-active in explaining to people using the trail where they can go and where they can't, and how they're expected to conduct themselves.
Meanwhile, one Huron County farmer who's land is adjacent to the proposed Goderich-to-Guelph Trail says the trail group has failed to address the concerns of farmers.
Doug McClinchey was part of the delegation to Huron County council. He says the working committee that was formed to provide dialogue between the groups has not done that.
He points out that in many of those farms, the trail runs along the edges of the farms rather than right through the middle, and that's a significant difference.
McClinchey adds he's not convinced that having the G2G representatives address county council will solve anything.
