An Ottawa woman is fighting to save a small garden that city officials have ordered removed after deeming it a safety hazard.
Shannon Lough said a bylaw officer visited her Kanata home Monday and told her someone had complained about the little patch of fruits and vegetables she tends to after work.
The garden is a few square metres of earth surrounded by a wooden structure that is about knee height and set a few centimetres back from the sidewalk.
The bylaw officer told her it must be moved back six to eight feet by July 31 or the city could have it removed. Lough could also face a fine of up to $5,000.
Chief Bylaw Officer Robert Chapman said that the city is worried the wooden structure could cause an injury.
“We’re just concerned about kids and others going down the sidewalk,” Chapman said. “Somebody could be tripped.”
Lough said she had travelled through Europe and seen similar front-yard gardens all over the place.
“I don’t know why here in Ottawa this would be a problem.”
In fact, Lough believes front gardens are beneficial because they help build a sense of community.
“Before (the garden), I didn’t really have any excuse to speak to my neighbours,” she said. “Now people come by all the time and we just talk about the garden.”
The latest topic of conversation: a “Save our Garden” sign planted in the middle.
With a report from CTV Ottawa
