Editor,
As you may know from following recent Council meetings, residents and business owners along Concession 8 South continue to raise serious concerns about road safety on our stretch of roadway. Despite months of correspondence, a presentation to Council on October 6, 2025, and assurances from Mayor Kentner that the issue would be addressed, no action has been taken to reduce the posted 80 km/h speed limit through our hamlet.
Meaford’s own Transportation Master Plan (2021)—completed four years ago—clearly recommends that rural local roads may be posted as low as 40 km/h where conditions warrant. Our section of Concession 8 South, with its blind hills, hidden driveways, and residential entrances, fits that description exactly. Yet despite the Township’s own policy guidance, nothing has changed.
Just last week, a pickup truck lost control while passing at high speed, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision. It is only a matter of time before tragedy strikes. Meanwhile, neighbouring Chatsworth Township acted immediately to post a 60 km/h ends sign on their side of the same road—proof that prompt action is possible.
To suggest, as CAO Shawn Everitt did at Council, that lowering the speed limit could increase liability is both illogical and alarming. The real liability lies in failing to act on a known hazard.
We again urge Council to reduce the speed limit on Concession 8 South to 50 km/h before winter—and before it’s too late.
Sincerely,
Diane and Martin Sasek, Meaford
On behalf of the residents and businesses of Concession 8 South
