Hiked parking fines for Ancaster waterfalls

Coun. Lloyd Ferguson hopes stiffer fines will discourage rogue parking around waterfalls in Ancaster.

We're experiencing a lot of illegal parking on Wilson Street coming down from the escarpment and it's particularly dangerous."

Ferguson says he worries cyclists whipping down the Wilson hill will slam into children exiting cars parked in the bike lane.

And I don't even want to think about the consequences of that," he told the planning committee Tuesday.

To help prevent that, the committee agreed to create a special enforcement area" for parking along Wilson and Lions Club Road by Tiffany Falls and Sherman Falls.

That hikes fines to $250, which the city has done in other neighbourhoods that host Hamilton's natural wonders.

So far, no parking" signs and bylaw enforcement haven't curbed the illegal parking around Tiffany and Sherman Falls, Ferguson said.

Staff are working on creating space for extra parking along a roughly 300-metre stretch on Wilson and preserve the bike lane, he said. I don't want to chase people away from enjoying our natural features."

The committee's decision awaits final approval at council next week.

Teviah Moro is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: tmoro@thespec.com