By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Among the correspondence at Wednesday’s meeting of Cobourg council’s Community Protection and Economic Development Committee was a letter urging an easing on the parking restriction for overnight parking in the north side of the Cobourg Marina.
Though Joyce Whittick was not present for an in-person delegation, the committee did review her letter that said the restriction “does not giver consideration to the ability of seniors and people with physical impairments to access their cars in the unkept parking in the east behind the marina office.”
Whittick and her husband are long-time seasonal boaters, but are now aged 78 and 81 respectively, dealing with physical problems that make walking to their car “very difficult and often painful.”
“Also the humidity has compounded the problem,” Whittick added.
“One day I had a hard time making it to the car and then had to sit int he car to cool down before I could make it to the marina office to sit for a while.
“Is this what the town intended in order to leave the north parking lot empty at night.
“As well, consider the rough, bumpy grass and dirty driveway that we must walk over. I have tripped a number of times. I don’t understand.”
Whittick’s recommendation was to have council reverse the bylaw that restricts overnight parking in the north parking lot and allow overnight parking, as in previous years. She also suggested seasonal boaters on F and G docks could apply for permission to be considered exempt from bylaw.
Mayor Lucas Cleveland’s suggestion was to receive the letter for information, and also to take it into consideration for the town’s upcoming parking study.
Committee Chair Adam Bureau agreed.
“I think that’s an appropriate approach to this,” said the committee’s other member, Councillor Aaron Burchat.
The motion to include the comments in the parking study was carried.
