By: Michael Bennett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Ridgetown Independent News
Ward 3 Councillor John Wright is bringing complaints and concerns from numerous East Kent residents to the next Chatham-Kent Council meeting about the illegal use of motor vehicles, damage and rowdiness on the CASO Trail.
Wright entered a Notice of Motion at the Nov. 3 Council meeting stating that he will bring the citizens’ complaints forward for discussion and voting at the Monday, Nov. 17 meeting.
Wright is one of several councillors – along with Mayor Darrin Canniff, local MPPs, CK Trails and the Chatham-Kent Police – who have received reports from residents in the area about the use of ATVs, other motor vehicles and the damage they’ve caused on the CASO Trail, which is municipal property.
“The municipality encourages the lawful and safe use of the trails,” Wright said in his Notice of Motion.
He will be asking administration to consult with Entegrus and the CK Police on ways to address improper vehicle use and prevent damage along the CASO Trail.
Messages were sent to both CK Police and the municipality’s office for more information on the citizens’ complaints and enforcement measures regarding the CASO Trail, which is restricted to walking, running, and cycling.
There is signage prohibiting the use of motor vehicles.
Shelomi Legall and Eric Labadie, Corporate Communications managers for the CK Police and Municipality of Chatham-Kent, respectively, both said in email responses to the Ridgetown Independent News that the two sides are meeting this week to discuss the situation.
The CASO Trail, one of the 58 in the CK Trails system, runs along the former Chesapeake & Ohio (later known as the former Canadian Southern Rail Line corridor from Communication Road to the Elgin County border. Entegrus was the main donor for the trail development, while the Trans Canada Trail provides annual grant funding to maintain and construct the trail portions within its route.
A representative of a citizens’ group in the Muirkirk area said the trail has become “quite dangerous,” with ATVs running up and down the path and riders at times verbally harassing people who are legally walking, running, or cycling.
But it’s not just ATVs that are illegally driving on the trail; cars and pickups are also commonly seen, especially on weekends.
“It’s like the wild west out here,” the group’s spokesperson said. “It’s dangerous if you’re walking on the trail when they fly by doing 100.”
Large groups of people congregate in the Muirkirk area on weekends, racing their vehicles along the trail until the wee hours of the morning.
The spokesperson said it’s not just locals, as people come from across the region for these weekend events.
Locks on gates at entrance points have been ripped off, while a set of gates installed by the residents near Muirkirk were ripped right out of the ground.
The municipality has installed some cement barriers along portions of the trail, but dirt bikes can still get around, and the other vehicles just move to a different location.
The spokesperson also said some of these individuals have entered private property and removed trees to create a new side trail.
And with large gatherings, there is the inevitable trash left behind, as well as the noise residents have to endure.
“It’s a miracle no one has been badly hurt … or worse,” the spokesperson stated.
