A3

By MICHAEL STAPLES
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com

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After close to a decade of consultations, merchants in the Town of Oromocto may soon have a blueprint to correct inadequate signage within its boundaries.

The breakthrough came Wednesday with the announcement that the Oromocto and Area Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the Town of Oromocto in sponsoring a formal signage study.

The $10,000 study, the cost of which is being split between the two parties, will be carried out by Kiers Marketing Group of Fredericton. It's expected to be completed by the end of December.

Blake Anderson, the chairman of the chamber's signage committee, said it's important that visitors not only come into town but are also able to find their way around.

"We are in a very unique situation with the Trans-Canada Highway running through the Town of Oromocto," Anderson said. "We have the museum at CFB Gagetown (and) we have a waterfront with an exceptional marina. We wanted to get tourists in and through the town so that they could stay and, obviously, spend a few dollars."

The study comes after the chamber has received close to a decade of feedback, comments and recommendations from member companies and the community at large.

Once the study is completed, the findings will be taken to the town.

Anderson said the chamber hasn't been able to quantify how much money businesses are losing because people can't find their way around, but the organization has received comments that the situation has been "difficult."

"We would hope that the Town of Oromocto would be able to budget some money into their 2009 year," Anderson said in anticipation of having council move on the study's findings. "We are not sure what the cost will be to implement new signage and to correct the deficiencies."

Maureen Schmidt who owns Eclipse, a salon and day spa, on Restigouche Road, said proper signage is needed. The current sign states "business district" and nothing else.

"We are now split into three areas and that needs to definitely be distinguished," Schmidt said.

Schmidt said the lack of signage is costing her business.

"People now, if they are pulling off the highway, are just staying right on the corner at Gateway (drive). They don't know that just down on Restigouche Road are all the food places, the salons, Home Hardware, restaurants, whatever."

Aside from that, Schmidt said, no one is travelling to the downtown area.

Robin Hanson, the owner of Home Hardware on the Restigouche Road, said Oromocto is strategically located and that a greater effort has to be made by the municipality to show signage and the community to others.

"Great things have happened (in the town) like on the waterfront," Hanson said.

"It's become almost like a tourist attraction. We really do need to connect with people passing through or passing by ... We have a lot of people who visit this community ... and we need a lot better signage."

Mayor Fay Tidd said she's anxious to see the study results and the town will do the best it can to work with the findings.

Tidd said she is looking forward to seeing some creative solutions.

Coun. Dianne Buchanan said the study is long overdue.

"The chamber has been working on this for three to five years, so I think it is important that they finish the project," Buchanan said. "Hopefully, we can make the changes that might be needed for the business person."

Oromocto MLA Jody Carr said if the chamber and the town can get together, he would be willing to work with both groups and take their concerns to the province - should something be identified at that level.