Ban sparks difference of opinion between Beach and Scarborough councillors Beach Mirror  By David Nickle Cars driving south on Victoria Park Avenue during the morning rush hour will still have to veer eastward rather than drive into the Beach’s Bracken Avenue, Toronto Council has decided. The May 7 vote overturns a recommendation from the city’s public works and infrastructure committee, to end the right-turn prohibition that has been in place for more than two decades. The right-turn prohibition means cars heading down the narrow, southern portion of Victoria Park are forced to veer sharply to the left rather than turn right onto the residential street. The prohibition was brought in by former Toronto Councillor Tom Jakobek, prior to amalgamation — a move that followed a number of other left turn prohibitions along Kingston Road to the north, in Scarborough. Because Victoria Park marks the border between the old Scarborough and the old Toronto, the issue has been impossible to deal with locally — and Scarborough Southwest Councillor Gary Crawford urged his colleagues to stick with the works committee recommendation. “From my perspective (the current situation) is absolutely not fair, and incredibly unsafe for the residents on the street,” said Crawford. “A lot of the residents have an incredible time even trying to get out of their driveways in the morning.”He asked council to go ahead and rescind the right-turn prohibition, then study the results of the move in 2015. However, Beaches-East York Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon said there was no good reason to change the rules. She pointed out residents on Victoria Park Avenue should have been aware of the situation after they’d bought their homes there. “I live on an alleyway backing onto the Danforth,” said McMahon. “I know I have chaos and commotion, but I accept it because it was there first.” Finally, McMahon asked council to support her as the local councillor whose constituents would be affected by the change.“I am the ward councillor — it is my ward,” she said. “Many of you make your decisions based on the opinion of the ward councillor. I am representing my residents. And staff recommend keeping the prohibition. If you don’t trust either one of the councillors, go with staff – our wise, expert and intellectual staff.” Council voted 28-14 to maintain the status quo.