Clarington says 24-hour security now in place at former Goodyear lands in Bowmanville
Clarington has arranged 24-hour on-site security at the former Goodyear lands in Bowmanville after the property owner did not meet an Aug. 9 deadline to provide security, the municipality said in an Aug. 11 update. Clarington says it will seek to recover the cost of the security from the owner through the court process.
The property has been the subject of municipal orders and court proceedings related to securing the site and demolishing its main building, which Clarington has declared unsafe. The municipality says the owner has appealed the demolition order in court.
Clarington’s outside legal counsel retained a structural engineer to review site safety as part of the court case, according to the municipality. The engineer attended the site on Aug. 4 with municipal enforcement staff.
The engineer’s assessment identified safety concerns including deteriorating building conditions, unsecured areas of the property, hidden site hazards, and evidence of unauthorized access, the municipality said. The assessment also cited what it called unlawful work being conducted on site.
Based on that assessment, the municipality ordered the owner to post 24-hour security at the site by Aug. 9. After the owner did not comply, Clarington arranged 24-hour security and said it was in place as of Aug. 11.
Clarington also says it is seeking an urgent court injunction to authorize the municipality to take steps it says are necessary to make the property safe, including demolition. The municipality says it will also seek to recover any related costs from the owner through the court process.
Clarington Emergency and Fire Services previously prosecuted the owner for failing to comply with orders to secure access to the building, but those charges were dismissed by the Provincial Offences Court, the municipality said.
In the Aug. 11 update, Mayor Adrian Foster said the municipality is using legal and regulatory tools to address safety concerns and enforce municipal orders at the privately owned site.