Canadian Pacific Railway plans to resume clearing land along Arbutus corridor

Tonight, Global TV reported that crews working for Canadian Pacific Railwaywill be back on the Arbutus corridor in the Marpole area on Tuesday (February 10), much to the consternation of those living in the area.

The work will reportedly begin along the track near West 70th Avenue.

Shortly before last November's civic election, Canadian Pacific Railway promised not to bulldoze any more community gardens until December.

Last month, B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson rejected the City of Vancouver's application for an injunction to stopCP Rail fromresuming its work.

Hinkson concluded that the railway had legal authorityover its 8.82-kilometre strip of land along Vancouver's West Side.

The corridor, which is mostly 66feet wide,runs fromWest 1stAvenue and Fir Street south to Milton Street, accordingto Hinkson's ruling, ad covers 17 hectares.

In recent years many Vancouver residents and groups have created community gardens along the property.

Hinkson noted that one of the oldest, which isbetween West 49th and West 54th avenues, was created during the Second World War.

"Other individuals have used parts of the Corridor as a foot and bicyle path," he stated. "Others have used the Corridor as a place to park their cars."

The City of Vancouver argued in court that the railway had effectively abandoned the corridor, which would mean that it no longer fell under the jurisdiction of the federal government.

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Canadian Pacific Railway plans to resume clearing land along Arbutus corridor