Roger Varley has been in the news business almost 40 years with The Canadian Press/Broadcast News, Uxbnridge Times-Journal, Richmond Hill Liberal and Uxbridge Cosmos. Co-winner with two others of CCNA national feature writing award. In Scout movement over 30 years, almost 25 as a leader. Took Uxbridge youths to World Jamboree in Holland. Involved in community theatre for 20 years as actor, director, playwright, stage manager etc. Born in England, came to Canada at 16, lived most of life north and east of Toronto with a five-year period in B.C.
From beautiful to tacky
There was a definite sense of excitement and pride in the air a couple of years ago as Brock Street West underwent a transformation as part of the downtown revitalization program. That continued to a lesser extent this year when streetscaping work was done on Brock between Toronto Street and Main Street.
In an earlier column this summer, I waxed eloquently about how beautiful and colourful the downtown area was looking. But it seems the excitement and pride is diminishing now that the work is finished,
I spend a good deal of time walking about the downtown area and, thanks to my journalistic and scouting training, I keep my eyes open. I notice things, And what I have been noticing of late is that considerable parts of the downtown are taking on a tacky, seedy look.
At Brock and Main, for example, weeds and grass are growing profusely along the curbs, especially on the southeast corner. But the undesired growth continues south along Main for quite some distance. But that is not the only area of the downtown where weeds and grass are growing on the sidewalks and curbs. You'll see the growth along Toronto Street as well. And on parking lots. And along the sides of buildings.
This unwanted plant life detracts from the planters and trees and benches that have been installed and makes the area look shabby.
But that's not all. There are several areas of the downtown where an accumulation of discarded chewing gum has left the sidewalks blotched with more black spots than you'll find on a leopard and there are areas where the sidewalk is badly stained by spilled liquids of some type.
And while we all appreciate the numerous litter bins that have been installed, their purpose is somewhat diminished if, as is often the case, they are filled to overflowing, resulting in litter being blown around the street.
Uxbridge Council recently passed a bylaw demanding that residents in the urban area take care of boulevards in front of their homes. They must make sure that weeds and grass are kept trimmed down and that all litter is removed. It seems only fair that the Township should be held to the same standard.
Apart from emptying the litter containers more frequently to stop the overflow, it really shouldn't overtax the public works department to rid our sidewalks and curbs of grass and weeds. A week-long blitz should do the job. Heaven knows, the public works department accounts for a substantial part of the annual budget: couldn't some of that money be spent in the downtown?? About the only time I see a public works presence there is when the street vacuum cleaner comes along sucking up the litter.
As for the chewing gum, I'm not suggesting draconian laws such as they have in Singapore, where you can be caned for chewing gum, but couldn't the public works department blast that stuff loose with power washers? Once a year could probably do the job.
Every homeowner knows that, now matter how trim and tidy you keep your garden, leave it untended for a couple of weeks and it quickly looks unkempt and derelict. Even your flowers loose their appeal if they are surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. The same goes for our downtown.
It seems to me that if you take pride in something, you do your utmost to keep it looking its best. To this end, Council should be directing public works to clean up the downtown area.
Tell me, am I wrong?
