Who’s road is it, anyway?

By Nadine Eagles-Harvie

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

A developer says he owns a road in Falmouth but the local council says he doesn’t.

Sale of the Old Township Rd in Falmouth to the Municipality of West Hants stalled last week when the question of ownership arose. David Howell, president of Buckwood Investments Ltd., claims he owns the road and says Department of Transportation has no right to sell it off as surplus property, “I have a deed with clear title to that land and it covers every piece of land up there including that road,” he said.

The Old Township Rd runs through a large parcel of property, which includes a Brison Development project, The Meadows. Howell is also secretary and treasurer of Brison Developments and says sale of the road to the municipality would impede future development there. “They (DOT) can say they have access rights but I am the one that owns the road and I am free to develop it,” he said.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) however, disputes the claim. Spokesperson Cathy MacIssac said it is a provincially owned road and is eligible for conveyance and sale. “We are actually in the position to sell it; staff are quite clear that it is a public, unused road.” MacIssac adds the sale of surplus land is a very routine matter.

The Municipality of West Hants passed a motion to purchase the land from DOT and Warden Richard Dauphinee said that offer still stands and that council would deal with any new information that comes to light.