Bylaw officers keep tabs on bike path
Illegal campers in Lions Park are wearing out their welcome with some tourists, residents and Oliver Visitor Centre staff.
Last week the bylaw enforcement officer and the RCMP were called to deal with a camper who pitched his tent and shopping cart right behind the information centre.
The fellow ended up packing up and leaving before officers arrived.
Like every summer and fall, illegal camping has been a problem in Lions Park and along the hike and bike trail.
The Chronicle learned that one couple chastised visitor centre staff for allowing such camping to occur.
Cathy Cowan, the Town’s corporate officer, said they only had a few complaints about camping along the bike trail this summer.
She noted that the bylaw officer would go out and move the campers along and advise them that camping was not allowed along the trail.
“Usually if it is during the hours of midnight to 6 am the RCMP will deal with the situation.”
Sergeant Ken Harrington of the Oliver RCMP said they always respond when asked.
“There have not been many campers along the canal this year, and those that have been asked to move along have done so quite easily,” Harrington said.
Carol Sheridan, manager of Oliver Parks and Recreation, said there are yearly complaints about people tenting on both sides of the river (from Road 9 all the way up to the bridge near Tucelnuit Drive.
“To me it seems as though some people just decide they can camp anywhere, regardless of whether they are aware of the bylaw against it.”
Sheridan said there are no-camping signs all along the dike, but some may need to be updated or made bilingual, she noted.
She said when people see illegal camping, they are asked to phone bylaw enforcement via the Town office. The bylaw officer will then go and ask the campers to move on.
Sheridan said the big question is what is adequate for bylaw enforcement in Oliver.
“That is a challenge facing all parties involved.”
She noted that Parks and Recreation has plans to increase its budget for bylaw enforcement action in 2015.
However, even at the peak of what was being spent on these services this year, there was non-compliance and complaints, Sheridan stated.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
