NOW THAT POTHOLES ARE IN BLOOM throughout Orangeville, and

residential property taxes are growing like topsy, one cannot help but marvel at what now many see as the immense folly of town council's creation of an elevated concrete median on Broadway.

Two of the more puzzling things about the median are these: It was supposed to attract more business to the downtown, yet one Broadway merchant recently advised against leasing a retail storefront because, he said, his business has dropped off substantially since the median was erected. Secondly, the installation was to be at no cost to taxpayers, yet we have not yet seen evidence that a reported corporate donation has ever been made.

In any event, Broadway was originally built as a "broad way" - a wide avenue in which everyone could take pride. Now it has become two narrow east-west traffic lanes with a massive structure in between. And there is one other lingering problem totally apart from the costs. The council, while holding itself out as handicap-friendly, has approved the use of sidewalks as cafes and display spaces for merchants, but has seemingly given no thought to a lack of space in the median in which handicapped persons might manoeuvre their scooters or push their walkers. Last summer, we heard numerous complaints from such persons.

Looking at it in terms of the budget, it would make sense to interrupt work on the median pending a critical review of its features, and perhaps to use any money saved to repair potholes.

Pleasant as a median with greenery could be, we've never seen a need for it to be such an imposing barrier.

We know that pride can get in the way of common sense. But we would think more highly of the council if it were to swallow its collective pride, admit that this elevated median was a mistake, and get on with undoing the harm it has created or has the potential to create.