by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — A Foresters Falls mother hopes Whitewater Region council can do something to stop people from speeding along the main street in Foresters Falls.
Amy Waite spoke to council at its meeting last night.
“I’m here as a concerned citizen,” she said.
Ms. Waite was hopeful of creating a Community Safety Zone (CSZ) in downtown Foresters Falls, but after doing research, realized that was not a feasible solution.
The issue is, she said, there has been a huge boom of children in Foresters Falls, and while it’s great to see new life, the main street is extremely busy.
The speed limit is 50 k/h, but Ms. Waite said not many people drive at that speed.
“If people see someone driving slowly, they figure there’s something wrong with the car,” she said.
She said 50 k/h is a reasonable speed, it’s just that people won’t drive that slow.
“We need to find a way to enforce the speed limit,” Ms. Waite said.
While she knows children are supposed to play in their yards, it’s not always easy to keep them there, since she doesn’t believe they should be fenced in, like dogs.
“We can’t put collars on our kids, that would be frowned upon,” she said.
Ms. Waite said while there are many tourists who travel through there and may speed, it’s also the local people who forget there are children.
During the school year, there are three stops for the school bus.
“It’s busy when the bus is picking up and dropping off kids,” she said.
Council discussed the speed boards that display the speed of a vehicle as it approaches.
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin said the Renfrew Detachment should be made aware of the concern and possibly there could be more patrolling in the area.
He also noted children have to cross a bridge to get to the playground and ball diamond, and with no shoulder along the bridge, which is on a curve, it could be very dangerous.
Councillor Charlene Jackson recalled when the purchase of speed signs was put into the budget. When she questioned Treasurer Marsha Hawthorne if they had been purchased, the answer was no.
Mayor Hal Johnson believes there is a speed sign available to the township, however, the police do not like to tow it with their vehicles.
“If we budgeted for the speeds boards, let’s get them,” he said, adding, there are similar speeding concerns in Westmeath.
Councillor Cathy Regier questioned if Children at Play signs can be erected, but Ms. Waite advised she spoke to staff at the county, since it is a county road, about those signs. Since there is no playground, that specific sign cannot be erected.
However, Mayor Johnson suggested other signs can be erected, such as caution signs people walking.
The county will be approached to see what can be done, because “they can’t refuse us on our safety concerns,” said Mayor Johnson.
Janet Collins, the physical services manager for the township, will also see what she can find out about what to do to slow down vehicles.
