A Cobourg resident says something needs to be done before the town’s west beach becomes overwhelmed by garbage, broken glass and other dangerous debris.
The stretch of shoreline from Hibernia Street to Ontario Street has become increasingly popular with people looking for a quieter alternative to the crowds at Victoria Beach.
But with that growing popularity comes a disturbing trend — garbage.
What was once a peaceful and relatively pristine place to sit, relax and enjoy Lake Ontario is slowly being littered with discarded beer cans, broken bottles, remnants of fires and, most recently, part of a syringe.
Cobourg resident Dana Barnett enjoys spending time along the west beach, where she can escape the crowds, sit by the water and read a good book.
“It’s quiet and the perfect setting to relax,” she said.
But on Friday, September 4, Barnett discovered something that was anything but relaxing.
Near where she had been sitting was part of a syringe.
The needle itself was missing, but finding what appeared to be a discarded syringe added to Barnett’s growing frustration over what she says is happening along the beach.
“Needles are terrifying but I also picked up several pieces of broken glass, which is also a big hazard,” Barnett told Today’s Northumberland.
Barnett said she was so concerned about the amount of broken glass that she began warning people walking along the beach with their dogs to be careful.
She said the glass can pose a serious danger to both people and pets, particularly dogs that may be walking through the debris or running along the shoreline.
The broken glass is just one of the hazards confronting people who use the beach.
Remnants of numerous fires are scattered along the shoreline, while beer cans and broken bottles can regularly be found mixed in with the debris.
Barnett says the problem is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
“People pay taxes to have their communities kept safe and clean.”
She believes unless something changes, the situation will only get worse.
“The people leaving this mess either don’t care or they’re too high to think about it. Either way, they’re just going to keep coming back, if something isn’t done.”
For Barnett, the west beach should be a place where residents can enjoy the waterfront without having to worry about stepping on broken glass, encountering discarded drug-related debris or having to constantly watch where they and their pets are walking.
And as more people discover the quieter shoreline between Hibernia and Ontario Streets, she believes the time has come for something to be done before the garbage problem gets even worse.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
