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.
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An unsightly mess
With all the talk about revitalizing the downtown core of Uxbridge, there is one aspect that hasn’t been touched on.
We’ve been told that the new downtown should be pedestrian friendly and inviting to visitors. It should have wide sidewalks and planters, store signs should be in keeping with the heritage theme and store facades should be spruced up, all with the goal of making the area more vibrant.
That’s all well and good, but tell me this: why on Earth would we go to all that trouble only to have the area turned into a dump twice a week?
The stores along Brock Street and the apartments above them put their garbage and recycling bins out on the curb every Monday and Thursday. From Main Street to Church Street, twice a week, our main thoroughfare is lined with piles of green garbage bags, stacks of newspapers and cardboard and whatever else needs to be thrown out. The only things not placed on the curbs are green bins, which, I am told, are placed in the alleys and parking areas behind the stores.
Not only is a double line of garbage unsightly for both residents and visitors, it’s also a bloody nuisance. Driving along Brock Street late last Thursday, I noticed the wind had strewn cardboard boxes all over the street, Yes, I know newspapers and cardboard are supposed to be tied with string to prevent that from happening, but not everyone does. And even if those bundles were tied, it would not make them any less of an eyesore.
Can you imagine having dinner in one of the downtown restaurants on either of those nights and looking out of the window at an array of garbage? Hardly conducive to a good dining experience.
At least one storeowner has done something about it. Scott Rutledge of Rutledge Jewellers has constructed a wooden garbage bin holder behind his store. The bins, which hold the garbage from both the store and the apartments above it, are neatly out of sight under the lids. The garbagemen – (sorry, that should be sanitary engineers) – have no trouble retrieving the garbage from this structure.
It seems to me it is long past time for Brock Street garbage to be placed at the rear of the buildings and for the garbage trucks to travel the alleys and parking areas to make the pickups.
Tell me, am I wrong?
