RCMP, council voice concerns over safety of new sidewalk cafe

A new sidewalk cafÉ that is expected to be constructed in downtown Sackville this summer is drawing concerns from a local RCMP officer and members of town council.
The owners of the Olive Branch restaurant and Ducky's Pub received the green light from council last summer to move ahead with their adjoining outdoor cafe along Main Street.
But with construction of a new four-storey building under way at the corner of Main and York Street, the area has become a lot busier this year, raising new safety concerns.
RCMP Cpl. Trish Levesque said the heavy traffic signage in that area of town also adds to the congestion.
"That area is already congested and I think anything else placed there will again detract from the signage," she told council during its regular meeting earlier this month.
Levesque also voiced her concerns over the cafÉ's impact on the number of parking spaces in town, as well as an establishment allowing liquor to be served in an open area downtown.
"These are all issues I'd like to see discussed."
Although the owners had hoped to erect the sidewalk cafÉs last July after receiving approval from council, they had difficulty booking a contractor at that time of year to construct the required wooden walkways, deckways and handrails.
In both proposals, the owners requested a similar format to the Bridge Street CafÉ, where table-and-chair sets are placed along the sidewalk while a temporary walkway is constructed to allow for pedestrian traffic to walk around the diners. Concrete barriers will surround the walkway.
Coun. Mike Tower, liaison councillor for public safety, said he would like to see the owners try to work out any concerns with the local RCMP and town officials but noted he is also worried about the congestion that a new sidewalk cafÉ will cause in that section of town.
"I'm worried because of the construction going on," he said. "I think we have to look at the safety issues and the town's liability in this."
Mayor Pat Estabrooks also stressed all parties need to consider taking "safety precautions there to make this work."