Around the time that Similkameen Trails Society were holding their annual general meeting during the past weekend, it seems significant vandalism was taking place on the regional trail corridor between Cawston and Red Bridge.
At least four bollards, used to restrict access to trail entry points east and west of the Keremeos village boundaries, were forcibly removed recently, including one wooden post used to delineate the trail entry point.
We are surmising that the vandalism had a point, noting that we are heading into the Christmas season.
It appears that the trail could be used by intoxicated drivers hoping to avoid police roadside checks, which usually ramp up this time of year.
The missing bollards, which were originally placed to prevent access to the trail by vehicles, were strategically removed at locations on the trail outside of the village. Someone driving a vehicle can now get out of town without driving through the usual roadside checkpoints near the firehall or along Seventh Avenue to the west by pass entrance.
Estimates of damage done are premature at this point, but it is considerable, especially after considering the fact that they were placed only last August.
It’s a sad situation if this is the case, as a lot of hard work and taxpayers’ expense has gone into trail development in the Lower Similkameen.
We would like to think that, once again, someone knows something. A quick call to the police or Crime Stoppers is all that would be needed.
Barring any information coming forward, however, perhaps one evening the police might consider changing their tactics by patrolling a less obvious route in the search of impaired drivers.