A group of Diamond Valley residents is crying foul after a handrail was removed from a section of walking path earlier this fall.
The handrail was removed from the pathway near Willow Ridge Manor by the Town, and residents want it put back. They took their concerns to the Diamond Valley council meeting on Nov. 15 and plan to attend the next meeting on Dec. 6 when council will further discuss the issue.
Residents say the handrail increased accessibility on the steep section of pathway, in all seasons, and that it was removed without warning.
An email from the Town of Diamond Valley, that was provided to the Western Wheel by residents, said the location of the handrail limited the ability to clear snow from the pathway, which resulted in freezing and thawing, and created ice on the pathway's surface.
Residents say that the railing had been in place for about 10 years with no issues, and that the decision to remove it was made without any public consultation.
The residents say the financial costs of installing and now removing the handrail are unrecoverable and they view the handrail’s removal as theft of public property.
They said a petition with 108 signatures in support of replacing the railing was presented to council during the Nov. 15 meeting, and a delegation of citizens will attend council's next meeting to seek further action.
The Western Wheel reached out to the Town for comment, but has not heard back.
Compounding residents' frustration is the closure of another nearby pathway, that the Town said earlier has been closed for the winter for safety reasons.
