Editor:
I wonder if landowners who have allowed the snowmobile trails across their properties realize how complicit they are in disturbing their neighbours’ peace.
Those of us who prefer living in a natural environment and non-disruptive active outdoor recreation at a pace that allows nature to be observed, not scared away, get no benefit at all from this use of your land. We are becoming all too aware of the difference between the noise of snowmobiles with altered mufflers and the muffled four-stroke engine that goes by relatively quietly.
Many trails are far from the landowner’s house but pass much closer to those of their neighbours. That is like just letting your kids blare tunes at all hours while you are away. The noise bylaws that do exist, although worded in a 1950s form, are clearly designed to prevent this sort of disruption of one neighbour by another. But there is clearly no intent to enforce this law in Clearview. On weekends it sounds as if a Formula 1 race track has been built nearby. There would have to be a due process before that happened, but apparently drag racing snowmobiles in Clearview does not have that due process.
As we start to understand the damaging effects of our past practices, the trend is clearly that municipalities are developing more socially and environmentally conscious priorities. They know that these are important in attracting investment and jobs. So although Clearview does not have a council that has arrived there yet, it will happen. The trail system users should recognize that the trails’ continued existence should not be assumed, but should be earned by better control of the disruption. And landowners should be more aware of their contribution to the problem. Their permission should require the responsible users, represented by the clubs, to demonstrate an ability to limit the noise of all users. And, if as is currently the case, they can’t, then I do not see why my neighbours should be imposing the noise on me.
Peter Halsall,
Clearview.