The beaches at Long Point may be quiet now, but people living there are preparing now for the crowds–beach-goers residents say lead to problems including the blocking of driveways, ltiter, trespassing urinating.
300 residents have signed a petition asking the County to encourage more visitors to use Long Point Provincial Park, rather than the beachfront.
Aside from that, property owners also want other changes, except Economic Development’s Chris Baird says they’d cost money, including suggestions for increased enforcement, new garbage containers and more washroom facilities.
Council has asked staff to “cost out” the suggestions and Baird expects a report to Councillors in about a month.
If you want the tourists to come and spend their money you have gotta spend some. Provide extra garbage cans (Friday the 13th in Dover they are lined up every 50 feet along the roadways) provide the extra bathroom facilities, provide the extra enforcement. Be professional about it!
Yup more toilets and garbage cans – lets just duplicate all the services already provided for at the Provincial Parks. Lets rent more toilets. Lets pay more in salaries for extra/additional garbage pick ups. Lets pay more for l NC employee drive pasts to make sure signage is in place, What a beautiful place it will be? Stop the madness, send all to the Park.
ya can’t force people into a paid park, when there is a public beach there.
That’s the problem, it’s not a public beach!!!!
apparently it is. If not, you would have people charged with tresspassing. You may want to check your laws and deeds.
So it’s ok for tourists to come to Long Point as long as they are kept away from your piece of Long Point. Get used to it. Just like you can’t stop Friday the 13th in Dover you can’t stop people from enjoying Long Point just be better prepared for it.
there is a high water rule for canadian residents also beaches are promised to canadians by the queens rule acess to such beachs to be cut off is against the law we have a right to 25 feet from the high water marks also right of ways must be open for the peeps to enjoy beach front ../ city slickers are attempting to over rule this and keep peeps out ../ no way hozey city dwellers it belongs to the public
I think that the cottagers in Long Point should have the right to keep people off their beaches – after they buy Lake Erie from the rest of the taxpayers of Ontario.
Really? You want “them” to go to the provincial park
Really? I have a young child that maybe lasts an hour or two
at the most at the beach…I will tell you right now Im NOT paying
$14 to use the beach that down the road I can use for free! Tell
Me does that make sense to anyone?
Just because these city people paid inflated prices for these cottages..they do not own the beach!! Do your homework prior to purchase!
Before purchase? You mean people should have ‘googled’ it back in the 1930s and 1940s when they were built only to be passed down through the family?
Or do you mean those who have purchased since then? Because if you’re referring to those people most DID in fact do their homework. This wasn’t an issue until last year when the mayor decided to take it upon himself to open up something without consent from any of the people that should be involved….
Our mayor did no such thing. Only a majority vote aby council can do such a thing.
Records were still kept and research could still be done back in the day. There was life before computers.
just keep promoting tourism and see how bad it gets i am a local to the inner bay area and the traffic is bad in the summer it keeps getting worse you cant even go to the beach in the summer beacause there is no place to park i love the time from thanksgiving to may 24 NO TOURIST so is the extra money worth it
Tell that to the businesses, and their employees, who rely on the tourist trade.
In case you have’nt noticed tourism is the only growing industry in this county.
Unbelievable! This smacks of outright Entitlement in an age when people seem to be under the false belief that they are entitled to Public Property.
Cottager owners on the Point do own their property but a section of beach
adjacent to the lake is Public correct?! Expecting families out for a fun day
at the beach to pay the admission to a park when there is a free alternative…….I too live in a beach community where there is no one
in the Winter and plenty of visitors in Summer…..I knew that when I bought
my property and I’m fine with people using the Public Beach all they want.
Sounds to me like the residents would prefer a gated community. Sad!
Response to comment regarding businesses and their employees who rely on tourist trade. WHAT businesses and employees? These visitors come from Toronto and Burlington area and bring all their own food, drinks and even ice! They even demand to use property owner’s outdoor electrical outlets to blow up their beach toys; they don’t want to spend the money on air at the gas station! There are NO $$$ being spent by them in our community – they are only leaving their trash and destructive carbon footprint and trespassing on property. Council created this “mess”. Instead of spending money on more garbage cans, signs, etc – use that money to subsidize provincial park entry fees. Hummmm……maybe Council should have used the money spent on widening the road (and encroaching on the marshland) and putting in parking spots and signs to subsidize park entry fees to start with. Would have been a win/win for everyone.
You are using an unfounded argument. Show me the person from Toronto that drives to Long Point for the day….and then drives back home. Possibly a handfull all summer. The bigger use is from near locals, like myself. I go to the beach, buy food, gas and icecream.
Price tag for that section of lake erie is around 56 billion! The people who live in long point feel free to start paying anytime if you dont want people there
Are we not arguing about living in a world biosphere here?
Maybe they should just knock all the buildings down, close the road, and let nature do its thing.
That would solve all the problems with this place.
When we open our cottage in the summer we are regular customers of Pt Rowan merchants, most importantly Foodland where we get our groceries and have been for years. We also attend “Twins” for our ice creme cones which I believe are most likely the greatest tourist dollar generator you find at either Pt. Rowan or LP . because the visitors to the Point all come equipped with their own coolers stockpiled with food for their free outing at the “beach” IT is the cottagers, not tourists/visitors helping the local economiy. I just hired a Mom and Dad outfit in St. Williams to replace my cottage flooring last summer. I am also a regular subscriber of the Pt. Rowan Good News. I wonder how many tourists pick it up? We have all been sold a “bill of goods” in the name of tourism dollars and it ain’t happening! There was no so called “public beach” in front ot the cottagers private property until the geniuses at Simcoe and Tourism Dept. decided to promote the area and create free parking along a stretch of marsh. I wonder if MNR was ever consulted – not likely. Garbage being thrown into the marsh from our departing guests is now a big concern. If things are free, people do not care and that is obvious from the mess of problems being encountered now. Tourists/visitors trying to use a neighbors private lakefront property as a boat launch, same goes for the removal of patio furniture by visitors for their personal use on the beach. There is no enforcement, and the “public beach” makes people believe its a free for all and its not right. My question to you is, are the people enjoying the beach where you are located, are they in your front yard, likely not! There are two provincial parks at LP and if they can afford the gas they can afford the day pass. The parks have all the amenities and as well, 20% of the parks operations are financed by all taxpayers of Ontario, so why is NC using our tax dollars to duplicate the services available at the park at no cost. Go to Toronto, Hamliton, Brantford and see how many things you find for “free” there. Good Luck!
Finally at one time LP was gated and perhaps it is something that should be revisited.
Make the causeway a toll road. Helps to determine if people value the Point.
Why do people always cite Pt Rowan and LP, but they don;t care about other area beaches? NIMBY.
Just a quick question Lloyd….When was Long Point gated/ I have lived in the area for all of my life and when a child my parents always brought us to the public beaches at Long Point, we always parked along the road and walked to the beach….this was over 40 years ago, and I know it has not been gated in my lifetime.
In the winter of 1959 my parents built a cottage on what was then 2nd Ave now 1st ave and there was a gate then.
Again, all this chatter from the cottage owners can easily be calmed down. If, when I am on the beach in front of your property, I am tresspassing, thus breaking the law, have me arrested. You would be within your legal right to do so. If, however, I am not tresspassing, since you do not legally own that beach, leave me alone and quit telling me where I can and can not enjoy my country. If you continue to do so, perhaps harassment charges could be discussed. Get it?
Further to this. The cottagers should have a survey done and put up a fence around their REAL property. That way they can screen out the view of people on the beach, and avoid the people using their power outlets and what ever other made up example they like to use. Win-win!
I think all of you “citiots” should go back to Toronto and all your other stupids Let us who originated here enjoy what we have not what you are taking away from us..
What about the people from Simcoe? What about Lasallete? Or St. Williams? How do you differentiate between the tourists from Toronto (those are the ones renting the cottage BTW) and the locals that pay taxes to subsidize your standard of living?
Thats what I mean the people from Norfolk County are the ones who suffer. All these people from Toronto come down here and want to own the beach but its not theres to own, we all pay the taxes and we all should have the right to enjoy a free beach. Look at Turkey Point all these “teens” that act like children come to turkey point rent a cottage trash it and trash the beaches and then leave it for us to suffer from.
I would challenge anyone to take a poll of the Long Point attendees to see how many are Torontonians here for the day. Face it, they are who is renting the cottages that brings money into the area. I believe the term is ‘Don’t bite the gift horse that feeds your mouth.’
I’ve never heard that one! I have heard both:
“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” (whatever that means..?)
and
“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
Long Point beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Canada. And it’s a mere two hours from the 3 million people that live in the GTA. Many Torontonians do venture out of the city for the day (unfortunately, haha), and either go to Wasage Beach, or increasingly to Long Point.
Also, though I understand that Turkey Point has a lot of weekly cottage rentals, my perception is that Long Point does not have as many. Many of the cottages are owned by families who’ve been enjoying the beauty of the Point for generations, and are fiercely protective of it. People buying the cottages these days seem to come from all over. Ontario’s South Coast is being discovered, and “gentrified”, like it or not.
Turkey Point with it’s liquor license, reputation, watersports, closer proximity to Simcoe, etc., seems to attract a different crowd.
Before my time too; however, I have heard from several it did exist. In the early 1950′s when the current “cottage area” of LP was Crown land under the jurisdication of the Provincial Department of Land and Forests (now Ministsry of Natural Resources) and the cottagers did not own the land but, in fact, were only able to enjoy the cottage property on a lease basis. Off season the gate was closed and cottagers gained entry with a key.
Hello Concerned Long Point Property Owner and Lloyd – Nothing on that “public beach” in front of your cottages is free. The people of Ontario have paid for it through their taxes and THEY OWN IT!
You might not like that but then too bad. They have the right to access and use their property.
If you really want to keep these “people” off YOUR property then put a fence around it. But remember that you will have to leave your compound and “mingle” with those unwashed masses when you want to go and use the “PUBLIC” sand and lake. – Unless you folks in Long Point want to buy lake Erie from us then you can keep us out.
Not till then!
I agree. Thank you
. Try going past the gates of the provincial Park.
I personally do not go to the park because of the cost. I do not leave garbage on the beach and respect the property owners that are in the area just as I would in any other area. Some of the Long Point residents think they own the whole point and think there are a little higher than the rest of us for some reason. I understand that there maybe some rude people that must be frustrating but all property owners have some issues with rude people. And I too have had to dealt with rude people on the beach as well as rude people near or on my property that I own in Norfolk. And yes, I do come from Norfolk County, not from Toronto or Burlington, but that doesn’t matter, people like to visit other places. Are you telling me that the people in Long Point only go to Long Point??? They never go to other beaches or places. They never book a holiday down south or go up Northern Ontario. It is amazing that there are so many cottages for rent for profit by the Long Point cottage owners. They don’t want people there unless they pay. Hmmmm……
Brent unfortunately you and others just do not get it! The example of an electrical outlet to blow up inflatables, etc. is almost too surreal but its true. The last two summers at LP have provided a real insight into human behaviour and todays “sense of entitlement” that goes with a “public beach” especially one that has a free entrance fee. Even at Grand Bend and Turkey Point you have to pay for the parking… You state “They have the right to access and use their property” and thats fine Its the problems, due to their “right to access” we are encountering at the Point that is the problem. We were originally told that there would be no impact on cottagers with the parking strategy. . Unfortunately there has been a negative impact on the cottagers but now the County tells us the problems we are having are civil, not civic matters. They have done a bait and switch. They created the parking, promoted in the travel brochures, but oh no, its not their problem. “Voice of Norfolk” appears to have common sense and understands manners. (takes his garbage etc.) Many to Long Point these summers do not.
Lloyd- Thank you for your clarification, as I believe they weren’t seeing the whole picture either. The people that comment on here, are the ones that I think get paid to do so, because they comment on anything and everything. They turned this issue from one thing to another. Like you said, its the issues that have become apparent due to there right to use the beach. Its the littering, illegally parking and whatnot. It is time Norfolk County enforces it’s bylaws and make people smarten up. How about we take the Parking Enforcement officer from downtown Simcoe (who I always see walking around and not handing out tickets) and put him in Long Point for the summer. It is great the Norfolk is a tourist destination, but when we start be taken advantage of, thats a different story. And, I know some bloggers are going to disagree with me… but oh well.
Thank you MySay – I hope others get it too!
Just so I understand..The beach is “public” and owned by the province but you want the County to clean it? The Bylaw person in Simcoe who is hired by the business owners (not the County), you want to move to Long Point and join the other 2 officers they had there last year? The free parking on Ordanance in Turkey point isn’t really free?
What am I missing here?
Just to be clear, there is no dedicated bylaw officer atr Long Point in the summer months. I believe there are summer students that are hired and they rotate between Pt. Dover, Turkey Point, Long Point…….. Thats a lot of area to cover. The Province does own the “beach” however people were directed to the Park until NC along with their tourism promotion, posted public beach directional signage, establishment of free parking etc. created in 2010. Again, the County created the situation, but now the problems being encountered are not their problem. Its civil vs civic which is a totally irresponsible statement, when NC are the creators of the problems and again they stated in their staff report, re parking strategy, there was to be no negative effect on cottagers.
I would say the same. You are not seeing the bigger picture. I agree. Charge for parking. I also think the causeway should be a toll road. But the simple idea that Canadians do not have a right to certain areas is the most pompous attitude I can think of. I think the people of Simcoe, or Port Rowan, or London, or Toronto, etc should start telling the beach bums to park elsewhere and not use their cities. Doesn;t sound totally farcical? Just remember that when you complain about people using the beach…a Natural Resource of Canada.
And you will never convince me that someone from Scarborough drives across Toronto to lay on Long Point beach for a day. It does not happen. Period. They rent, camp, or visit friends and family. Toronto has beaches that surpass LP, why would they drive here?
Time for a good old fashioned expropriation and make the whole point from the top o f the causeway down, a no impact camping prov. park.
And WHO would pay the expropriation? the taxpayer? great idea.
You don’t have to pay for expropriation. That is why we truly do not have Private Property in Canada – it is subject to the government taking it when it is in the interests of the government. Look it up. the 402, 407 (recently) the Pickering airport. No compensation. Do it with Long Point too.
Theres a beach there? Sweet! Wouldn’t have known after all this complaining. Anywho Where coming from Simcoe, are we eligible? Is that close enough? My friends and I have tons of loud music, beer guts and tattoos. We will try not to block the view. We are conservationists and do collect litter. By the way, where’s that new hotel and bar going?
Since they wouldn’t want it on their beach we’ll have to float it a little offshore.
Interesting commentary. Even more surprising, is that I thought Neanderthals were extinct! Look forward to seeing you at the Point!?