Town staff have recently heard complaints about overgrown shrubbery around town.
At the recent Public Works Committee meeting on Nov. 4, there was some discussion of a photo posted on Facebook that shows a woman sitting on a mobility aid, trimming overgrown shrubs because she could not pass.
The committee discussed the issue and the point was raised that while they are aware of the problem, there seems to be a lack of response from property owners who have received notice that their shrubs are overgrown.
One committee member mentioned that “it’s a slow process. People have all kinds of reasons for not wanting to do it, so they don’t do it,” referring to proper care of greenery.
Shrubs block sidewalks and make it difficult for townspeople to manoeuvre on quiet and busy roadways. Committee members cited examples where they’ve had the same kind of problems getting by bushes. The committee discussed the fact that the soft approach isn’t working, meaning that the letters asking shrubs to be trimmed get no reply.
Joe Fernandez, Chief Administrative Officer for Lake Cowichan mentioned that the next step in due process is to begin issuing warning letters to erring properties, and the idea to put out quarterly reminders on social media was brought up as well.
If you have overgrown shrubs that impede public walks and roadways, please address the issue and help out your fellow townspeople.