The Editor,

Re: "Gateway wants to clarify history of casino saga," the Now, Feb. 7.

Many residents of South Surrey were not aware of this proposal - whatever press releases, surveys or impact assessments that were done by Gateway, BCLC, Surrey city hall or the provincial government were obviously not open enough.

To satisfy all concerned parties, awareness of impacts on the community from such projects as a casino should not be just a small notice in some local newspapers.

For subdivisions and small road changes this form of information is acceptable.

Something like this casino altering a quiet rural neighbourhood obviously should have had a mail-out to all the local residents. A mail-out was sent to less than 20 adjacent residents. Maybe 5,000 to local residents would have been more appropriate.

The other part of this complex stated South Surrey needs a hotel and conference centre. Well, there is one at the other side of Highway 99 on King George Boulevard - The Pacific Inn.

Maybe James Chen recalls at our local residents meeting, there were close to 500 hundred people inside one of the Pacific Inn's conference rooms. Adequate and comfortable in its size to inform you and BCLC "you are not welcome in our community."

Martin Cooper, Surrey