A West Vancouver citizen has asked the district to be proactive when it comes to cleaning the streets.
“Walking from 21st and Marine Drive to Fresh Street market, we were appalled at how dirty our sidewalks are, in particular on the south side from 19th going east. Basically, our walks are filthy. How can this be the West Vancouver we brag about?” he said in a letter.
The citizen said while he had seen trucks being used for watering flower baskets in the spring, the district never made cleaning the sidewalks its priority.
“The credit union sidewalks have become disgustingly dirty with lots of trash. Even the new sidewalks near Earls and Heirloom are getting dirtier and dirtier. How can we feel good about our home, West Vancouver, when it does not care about something as basic as clean sidewalks?” he said.
“Whose responsibility is it to remove trash, sweep, hose down, and power wash the sidewalks? Why are our sidewalks not cleaned on a regular basis?”
Raymond Fung, the director of engineering and transportation, said staff did pressure-wash the paving stones in Ambleside business area once in the spring after the pollination period to remove residue build-up, as it could be slippery.
As for streets, it was the responsibility of the adjacent property owner to pick up litter, to sweep, and in general keep clean the sidewalks and municipal boulevard along their frontage, Fung said. “In situations, where there is a trip hazard and/or need for sidewalk replacement, the District will initiate works.”
each adjacent business take 30 seconds to sweep litter when they open thier doors.
I live in the area this person is talking about. In fact I walk the same routes regularly and constantly see shop owners caring for the walkways in front of their businesses and city workers cleaning up debris. There is pride in our community. Using the term “filthy” is beyond an extreme exaggeration. Perhaps this person should take a walk around the Main and Hastings neighbourhood, it might help him redefine his terms of reference.
What we are really faced with in every community are lazy people who who cannot take a few extra steps to a trash bin, who choose to toss cigarette butts in the ground, who have yet to participate in recycling programs, have little respect for their environment and likely think it’s other people’s job to clean up after them.
The writer who regards this area as “filthy” just wants to place blame instead if stepping back to understand there is a greater problem and applaud the city for its efforts to keep our streets and walkways clean.
Have you seen gaypride didnt even have garbage cans so nothing to be upset about. Considering we have 10 days of celebration of the arts it’s not bad. I was there yesterday and didnt notice anything and I’ve loved there for 10 years..
Please do WASTE water and flush these disgusting streets of WV. How ever did they survive back in the days of dirt roads and boardwalks…it’s a wonder we still exist today given the plight of dirt.
One of the worst municipalities in Canada. Higher tax and garbage removal every other week!!! Yes, every other week!!! Racism is open and obvious amongst people, mostly older females!!!
Why are we talking about “filthy” streets when what we really have is a littering problem. The ground is always going to have dirt – I have no problem with that (our streets are cleaner than most parts of the world). What I have a problem with is the increase in littering. Nobody seems to care about keeping our beaches/parks/neighbourhoods clean or being respectful about other people’s property. I see garbage on our beaches and in our ocean! On top of that, dog owners don’t pick up after their dogs or they do but they leave the bags on our property. We also have people who just throw their empty coffee cups out their car window as they drive by. This disgusts me.
Littering is a huge problem and nothing is being done about it. People may say “big deal, it’s just a little piece of garbage” – but it’s more than that. It’s about respect and responsibility! It is not hard to clean up after ourselves. If you have garbage find the nearest bin or wait until you get home. There is no excuse for littering
I agree, West Vancouver is filthy. Look at Dundarave and Ambleside and John Lawson Parks and Bathrooms.
These 3 locations are the most beautiful in the lower mainland if not Canada. Yet the parks are painfully basic and old and outdated with a sewer pipe on the beach! And the playgrounds are archaic!!
The bathrooms are disgusting. Truly gross. The concrete floors smell so bad. Just tear them down!
You have so much taxes from the riches houses in Canada these bathrooms should be low flow and touch less. And cleaned hourly, not a freakin number in the wall to call for service when needed
What a disgrace
Hope, Kamloops and the outhouse at Clearwater was cleaner than Ambleside
Ok