Officials at William Head Prison in Metchosin have plans to take out a double 4 metre fence and replace it with a 1.25 metre fence -- that's going from about 13 feet down to 4.
Given that there have been escapes in the past and incidents with neighbours, Metchosin Mayor John Ranns says the news comes as a surprise:
"Nobody at the district office, or myself, or anybody else was aware of this."
Ranns admits it's a bit concerning to learn through the media about the planned change. He has scheduled a meeting with the warden Thursday to learn more, and will reserve judgement until then:
" Well it depends on the rational. I can't say that until I've heard what remediative measures are going to be taken when they shorten the fence and what their reasoning is and everything else."
He says it's a little difficult when wardens seems to come and go fairly often at William Head, and some are communicative while others are not. Ranns says this is likely just an anomaly in the relationship.