People Furious After Cars Towed Away in Oakville

Published June 28, 2018 at 6:35 pm

Oakville’s Bronte neighbourhood is popular for many reasons: its stunning waterfront, great restaurants, and lack of big box stores.

Oakville’s Bronte neighbourhood is popular for many reasons: its stunning waterfront, great restaurants, and lack of big box stores.

Well, it seems plenty of visitors are getting towed — even though they say they’re supporting local businesses (and perhaps squeezing in a lakeside stroll while they’re in the ‘hood).

A few people have taken to social media to warn others of their $367 woes.

Here’s one Facebook group post from June 25:

“We didn’t understand why because the sign said for customers only. The tow guy said we left the lot & wandered around. We left the lot to walk to the restaurant! Apparently that lot is privately owned but we never knew that. We park & go to Denningers periodically & always thought it served that whole area. Phil’s Towing took the car to 1201 Speers Rd & charged us $367. There were several others there as well & one couple were not able to pay then. They will be charged storage until they get it. Post signage if it’s a private lot! We won’t be back for awhile, that I can tell you. Shoppers/tourists, BEWARE!”

Here’s another from June 26 by a person who says she went into Denningers to buy pork chops and parked in the lot behind the store.

“We parked in the lot behind Dennigers (sic) and thought let’s go for a quick walk while we are here. We walked, stopped nowhere and then went into dennigers (sic). When we came out the car was gone. It had been towed. Now, Bronte is a community full of amazing local businesses. No big corporate stores. It is also by the water so the lure of a nice walk is there. The Dennigers (sic) and Sobeys lots now tow if you step off the lot property. We watched 2 cars get towed. It is sad that an amazing community full of hardworking shop owners will most likely feel the impact of this on their businesses. There is nowhere to park and enjoy the community of Bronte and it is sad the the greed will adversely affect these businesses. Speak up… there are hardworking people bringing you local goods and restaurants… time to find a parking solution in bronte.”

Street parking is free in Oakville -aside from downtown- but fills up quickly in Bronte year-round.

Canada Day festivities will be taking place in Bronte this weekend, and temporary ‘no parking’ signs are already in place.

Permanent signs, though, warn of a tow.

Many would suggest Bronte is as desirable a destination as Port Credit.

If that’s the case, is it time to follow Port Credit’s lead by implementing municipal and/or private paid lots?

At the very least, it may ensure legitimately parked vehicles won’t get towed.

But don’t Halton residents pay enough taxes?

Last year, the City of Mississauga began charging for parking in Streetsville following the 2016 rollout in Port Credit.

(You probably know … they’re cute little villages with plenty of foot traffic, although Port Credit is where you’ll find younger crowds).

Streetsville’s paid parking initiative was officially announced in Nov. 2017.

In early 2018, a change.org petition was created asking municipal leaders to immediately remove parking meters from Streetsville. 

No dice — meters have been installed in Streetsville, too.

Do you think Bronte should have paid parking lots?

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