CLIMATE BE DAMNED: TOWN CONSIDERS OPEN BURNING IN URBAN WARDS
Dear Editor:
Open letter to Gravenhurst Council
Re: Backyard burning Ward 1 & Ward 5
I see that you are considering allowing residents of Wards 1 and 5 to have fires in their yards.
(The issue is on the town’s committee agenda Wednesday.)
This while we are living in a time of climate emergency.
While we are struggling to cut carbon emissions.
Do you see this as a time to allow more carbon into the atmosphere by allowing residents in Ward 1 and Ward 5 to have backyard fires?
I certainly do not.
For those of us living with chronic breathing conditions that idea is quite alarming.
Living in Ward 1 for 25 years, I have always felt a bit protected.
I ask you, please do not allow more open fires anywhere.
I think that is the responsible thing to do in 2019, at a time when our very future is questionable.
Make Gravenhurst proud.
Keep as much carbon as possible out of the atmosphere.
Regards,
Lois Cooper
July 14, 2019 @ 9:55 pm
I find the possibility of going back to burning in Ward 1 alarming. I thought one of the original reasons for this being put into effect years ago was that the houses are in much closer proximity of one another in this Ward, and for that reason very hard on those with breathing problems, lung ailments, allergies etc. when burning takes place. For a great many, this Ward 1 prohibition created a collective sigh of relief. Council actually wants to take this horrible step backwards???
On a personal note, I often use an exhaust fan in my kitchen and bring in fresh air in through my back windows. Occasionally neighbours have contravened the burn prohibition, and my whole house has ended up filled with smoke before I have noticed it being drawn in and I find myself with burning chest and coughing. It’s a very unhealthy scenario.
I urge Council to rethink this proposal to again allow burning in Ward 1 ( and Ward 5, if that is also being considered for the change.)
Janine Richard