Clarington seeking to protect Camp 30 from vandals

Camp 30 may be abandoned but it still has its protectors and Clarington is looking at different options to protect the historical Jury Lands Camp 30 area from damage caused by vehicles trespassing on the property and four-wheelers tearing up the land.

Camp 30 was a prisoner of war camp during the Second World War and while conditions were better than most for the German officers being held there it was also the site of the Battle of Bowmanville, a two-day affair fought with hockey sticks and whatever else was at hand in 1942.

Since then the site has been left to decay while new battles are being fought, this time over ownership, and the municipality wants to ensure the property and the remaining buildings can be saved.

Council has directed Municipal Public Works staff to immediately clear the ditch that borders the property along Lambs Road and to use the excavated material to construct a berm to prevent trespassing and illegal entry. Public Works will also be investigating the cost of placing large boulders along the property line to help prevent trespassing.

The cost of this work will be assessed through the 2022 Budget process in January.

The motion passed at Monday’s council meeting 5-2 with Councillors Jones and Zwart voting against.