Township, businesses and cottagers should stand up and fight to get something done
To the Expositor:
In response to the letter about Providence Bay beach I would like to say there is nothing nice about walking on the shoreline with all the sawdust that washes up after a storm and there are many, many people who do not pick up after their dogs. What once was a big tourist attraction as the most beautiful beach on the Island is now false advertising. People are surprised to see the condition of it when they arrive. In fact, people bring their rakes with them to clean an area where they are planning to spend the day with their kids. Someday there are more dogs than people—can’t they read the signs at every entrance? In fact, I have seen trucks driving down to launch their boats. Once again it is also on the sign. If there is no one there to in force the law why should people care? After all it’s looking more like a bush than a beach.
I have been coming here for years and Providence Bay businesses are closing up. If you need anything you have to drive into Mindemoya or drive to Gore Bay. I’m surprised that the people who run some of the parks don’t try and have something done to clean up the beach and get rid of the weeds. If it wasn’t for the tourists that keep their businesses going they would go under so there are two sides to this. If you want to enjoy they endangered weeds, section off an area, but they do grow all over the Island, not just a Providence Bay. While they’re at it maybe they should really make an area for dogs. Who wants to swim with their hair floating in the water or have to listen to them barking. Believe it or not, not all people want dogs around while they are at the beach—they are there to try and enjoy themselves.
They did fix it up around the river, a perfect place to enjoy the weeds and butterflies, although once again people don’t pick up after their dogs there or on the boardwalk so you need to educate the people or get someone out patrolling the beach to eliminate one of the problems.
Now even walking towards the marina along the shore as you get closer there is an area where they throw the fish guts. Who wants to see or smell that? This year I notice a drop off of tourists and I’m sure it will continue to get worse. I think it is time the township and the people with trailer parks, cottages and what business there is left to fight to get something done. This is your livelihood, it is up to you stand up, after all you do pay taxes. As a person who spends a lot of time and money I would really like to see an improvement next summer.
Christine Robinson
Sudbury
