Harriston Trailer Park leases may not be renewed

It’s enough to make a Trailer Park Boy cry.

Councillors here are giving serious consideration to a Fire and Emergency Measures Committee recommendation that a clause be added to Harriston Trailer Park lease renewals stating that upon the sale of any existing trailers in the park, there will be no renewable lease.

Mayor David Anderson advised members of the press that councillors would be discussing the recommendation in-camera as a property matter.

He said there are a number of things involved in the issue of the municipally owned trailer park.

The park, located near the Harriston-Minto community centre, lies within the Maitland River Floodplain and some of the leased land backs onto the river itself.

Anderson said issues surfaced in part due to the flooding that has happened in the last few years. Last year, flooding of the property required evacuation of the residents.

While Anderson said recent improvements to Maitland Valley Conservation Authority flood warning devices will give more warning regarding impending floods, it will not stop the flooding itself.

The issue of the trailer park being near the river remains a liability, Anderson said.

He also noted presentations by Maitland Valley staff brought the issue of flooding risk and liability to the attention of the municipality. However, following an in-camera discussion of the matter, council deferred the recommendation pending legal advice.

 

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