An 8 km/h speed limit on the Thames River from Chatham to Lighthouse Cove in Lakeshore is proving to be a tricky problem to solve.
Chatham-Kent OPP are looking to set up a another meeting to get suggestions from residents on how to put the issue to bed.
Constable Eric Van Kesteren says residents on the river are upset with speeding boaters, but local business owners say the low limit is driving away customers.
"As a result of the speed limit along the Thames River, that has been in place for roughly 30 to 40 years, we've seen a decrease in tourism in Chatham-Kent and Lighthouse Cove," says Van Kesteren. "People just aren't really wanting to do the four hour boat ride anymore."
The OPP are trying a different approach in this case.
"Just stepping away from a reactive approach to policing and identifying and involving different public or private agencies or organizations to assist in solutions," says Van Kesteren.
A meeting was held on Tuesday at St. Clair College in Chatham in partnership with municipal police and other related agencies, but was poorly attended. Van Kesteren is hoping a second meeting, likely in June during boating season, may produce a solution that makes everyone happy.
