Snow business causes slow business

BY RAFFY BOUDJIKANIAN

raffy.boudjikanian@transcontinental.ca

Several shopkeepers in a strip mall on the corner of Centre Commercial and Third Avenue South in Roxboro say they are very upset about a large snow bank that city workers have left at the edge of their parking lot.

However, Pierrefonds/Roxboro borough spokesperson Johanne Paladini said the snow bank will be removed Tuesday by city workers.

'"It affected me a lot. (Sales are) maybe 50 per cent down," said Bassam Freiha, who owns Danimira Chaussures, a store that is right behind the snow bank. He said that he tried approaching snowplough operators about the problem, only to be told that this was the borough's responsibility.

"It used to be even bigger," Freiha said. "Now it's melted a bit." He estimated that the bank has been there since the first large snow storm in December.

Ali Ayache, who owns a barbershop next to Freiha's shoe store, said that he had a car accident last Monday because the snow bank reduces visibility.

"One of my car's lights and side doors are damaged," Ayache said. A car turning left on Centre Commercial from Third Avenue South did not see Ayache's vehicle going down Centre Commercial, he said, and hit it.

"I've frequently had to go down to the middle of the street to see if there's another car there before I turn on that corner," said Thérèse Presseau, who lives nearby. "It's been like this for the last three years," she said.

"It's illogical that they put this snow bank here," said Freiha. "They must know there are shops here," he added. "I hope they move it soon."

Presseau said usually, there is another, even larger snow bank on the corner of Fourth Avenue South and Centre Commercial. "That's even more dangerous," she said, since there is a school nearby and kids frequently walk home from it.

Some Roxboro residents also complained about the amount of snow in their driveways at last week's Pierrefonds/Roxboro borough meeting. "They're shoving all the snow on our driveways," Fifth Avenue South resident Edouard Ayer said. "It makes it very difficult for us to get out of a driveway," he said.

"Do you have enough equipment?" questioned Dominico Pavon of Roxboro.

"We're trying to render service as soon as possible," borough mayor Monique Worth said in response to the complaints. "I think we all have to learn to live together."