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Constance Bay residents are raising a stink about several portable toilets in the small community that borders the Ottawa River.
The four toilets have serviced beach-goers for several years, but in a report to the city’s environmental advisory committee last October, some residents requested that they be removed until something more permanent can replace them.
West Carleton-March Councillor Eli El-Chantiry said the residents have ulterior motivest—and that the toilets aren’t going anywhere.
In the summer of 2002, the waterfront residents faced a serious problem; people were urinating on their lawns.
Public urination occurred on the area beach and on the property of waterfront homes. Nearby businesses were also affected as they were forced to accommodate beachgoers.
So the city put in summer portable toilets—or “Pail Privies” as they are more elegantly labelled.
The complaints decreased, and the problem was on its way to being solved, or so they thought.
“This hasn’t solved the problem,” said resident Kathy Black, adding that while out for a bicycle ride with her daughter, she recently came across two men urinating on a resident’s fence, a “stone’s throw away” from the portable toilets.
I think that’s a pretty good indication that the portable toilets “aren’t working,” she said.
Two of the toilets are located at the point, one at the Auger’s beach access point and one at the boat launch, Ms. Black said.
She added that environmental concerns and the health and safety of residents are the main issues with the portable toilets, which she said are located close to private residences.
“We’re in the middle of a residential neighbourhood here. These toilets are right beside a guy’s house. Can you imagine that on Campeau Drive or some place in Ottawa?”
The Residents Beach Committee, which Ms. Black chairs, would like the portable toilets relocated until a permanent solution is found.
“Obviously, it is not a health and safety concern,” said Mr. El-Chantiry, adding that he hasn’t found one regulatory body that has a problem with the toilet facilities.
“They know the alternative is almost impossible to achieve,” said Mr. El-Chantiry, of the expense of a permanent public washroom facility.
“The intent of their motion is really to prohibit people from going to the beach—and that is not going to happen.”
“Personally, I think the beach should be for everybody,” said Ian Glen, president of the Constance and Buckham’s Bay Community Association.
Mr. Glen said that while he has in the past received complaints about the constant door-banging, smell, and even an overturned toilet, the city has generally been accommodating in providing improvements.
“We need porta-potties because we don’t want people peeing in the gardens,” said Mr. Glen. “But we would like to see them modified so that they are quieter and not as obtrusive, secure so they don’t get knocked over, and cleaned regularly.”
Ms. Black, who referred to the 2006 village plan, said the beach is not public property, nor is it owned by the city.
The city installed large boulders this year at one access point to prevent people from driving on to the beach, Ms. Black said, adding extra vehicle traffic in the area also causes parking congestion at intersections and creates poor visibility for drivers.
“People are not trying to keep the people off the beaches, it’s about respect,” she said.
The portable toilet issue will be discussed at the agricultural and rural affairs committee on Friday.
(C) Ottawa Citizen