By Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
FALL RIVER - Speeding, stolen street signs, and theft of materials from homes under construction were among the issues brought forward by residents during a RCMP town hall meeting in Fall River on Monday.
About 50 people showed up at the Gordon R. Snow Community Centre meeting on Nov. 30 to ask questions, voice their concerns, and get more information about policing issues in their community.
While questions were varied, a handful expressed their concerns over speeding in local residential neighbourhoods.
One woman inquired about the possibility of more patrols in local subdivisions between 11 p.m. and
4 a.m. She outlined "crazy" speeding during those hours around High Road. She was also disturbed by the number of street signs going missing, some of which were later found burned.
"If there was ever an emergency and you need an ambulance or fire or police and your street sign is gone, that's very, very serious," she said.
Coun. Barry Dalrymple advised residents to be vigilant and to immediately report any missing signs to the municipality.
"Many people assume HRM is aware of missing signs. We're not. I've only had seven reports (in to our call centre) this entire year," he said. "I can guarantee there are way more than seven signs missing. If we don't know a sign is gone, we also don't know to replace it, so it's up to you to report those things."
Addressing a question about police patrols in areas where some youths have been causing disturbances, RCMP Insp. Joanne Crampton said young people are known to move from one location to another.
"They were behind the rec centre for a long time, and we ramped up patrols. They're no longer here, but moved to the Sobeys area," Crampton said. "What I understand from people is it probably wouldn't be such an issue if they cleaned up and were more respectful of other people's property. It needs to come from the community that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable."
The issue of thieves breaking into local homes under construction and taking items like hardwood floors and windows was also brought up. RCMP members confirmed there have been several construction break-ins over the last two or three months.
One issue that sparked a great deal of discussion surrounded the parking crunch for students at Lockview High. Local resident Cindy Dollard attended the meeting with her own mother and young baby. She said although her mother is only a 10-minute walk away from her home, it has become impossible to make the trip on foot.
"Lockview students are parked every which way on both sides of the street ... I can't go for a walk in my own neighbourhood safely because it's now basically a one-way street," Dollard said. "They're also bringing a ton of garbage. Even if they're just parking on one side of the street it would be better, but there are cars there from nine in the morning until three in the afternoon."
The area's RCMP school liaison officer Lisa Howe explained there aren't enough parking spaces to accommodate all the students, so many choose to park on Kinclaven Drive because it's easily accessible to the school. Howe said she has been discussing solutions with Lockview High staff.
Dalrymple told Dollard a letter outlining the parking problems was also being included in a Dec. 1 school newsletter.
"We're asking students to park on one side of Kinclaven only, to leave enough room for people to get out of their driveways, and to stop littering," he said. "If they don't do it within the next two weeks, we will go to the process of banning parking on both sides. I have faith the students will correct that problem themselves."
Dollard left the meeting satisfied the problem will be resolved.
Other issues brought forward included the need for volunteers at the RCMP's community policing office at the recreation centre, and for its Citizens on Patrol program.
The meeting was one of eight being held throughout the RCMP's Halifax district. It was hosted by Office In Charge Supt. Darrell Beaton and local RCMP. Similar town hall meetings are scheduled for Sackville on Dec. 7 at Millwood High's cafeteria starting at 6:30 p.m., and on Dec. 9 at the St. Margaret's Centre in Upper Tantallon at 7 p.m.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca
