Action has been taken to stop a Commonage neighbourhood from being trashed.
Boulders and a gate have been installed on an abandoned piece of road next to Commonage Road, near Rose’s Pond, to prevent illegal dumping.
“It just looks awful with garbage there and people use Commonage Road to get to Predator Ridge,” said Bob Fleming, electoral director for the area.
Among the items left there are animal carcasses, mattresses and tires.
“Residents voluntarily have removed waste and I have been up there and helped them take away waste,” said Fleming.
Besides being unsightly, there is a concern that carcasses could attract predators like bears while some of the material could become a wildfire risk.
Fleming points out that the site is just a few minutes away from the Greater Vernon landfill.
“In most cases, it would have been a $3 charge to dump (at the landfill). Pleading poverty is a poor excuse so obviously this was considered a convenience,” he said.
However, the convenience is over with the rocks blocking access to the site.
“People won’t be able to hide from passersby on Commonage Road any more,” said Fleming.
The gate will allow the City of Vernon to access a treated effluent station there.
Assistance in installing the barriers came from the Regional District of North Okanagan and the Ministry of Transportation.
