‘This decision could resonate well beyond our borders’: Clarington rejects demo of Camp 30 building

by | Nov 14, 2023 | Jury Lands News, Municipality Press Release, News Media

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Former POW camp dormitory, national historic site to remain

By Moya Dillon Clarington This Week
Article was updated
https://www.durhamregion.com/news/council/this-decision-could-resonate-well-beyond-our-borders-clarington-rejects-demo-of-camp-30-building/article_fb413dcd-0243-5119-9001-760074ac1361.html

Clarington council gave a definitive no to plans to demolish the former Camp 30 dormitory building.

The camp, located on Lambs Road in Bowmanville, is one of the only, mostly intact Second World War prisoner of war camps left standing in Canada, and was designated as a national historic site by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 2013.

In June, the current owners submitted a heritage permit to demolish the camp’s triple dormitory building to make way for a new housing development. Clarington’s heritage committee reviewed the permit and recommended it be rejected.

“If we cannot preserve a national historic site then what chance do we have of preserving our local or municipal buildings?” said Steve Conway, vice-chair of the Clarington heritage committee, during a council meeting on Oct. 23.

Conway called the building’s state of disrepair an unfortunate reality that could have been avoided with regular maintenance.

“A growing number of heritage buildings seem to be falling into neglect, and no level of government is willing to hold anyone responsible,” he continued, noting there is a fine for demolishing heritage buildings without a permit, but no fine for what he referred to as “demolition by neglect.”

“Developers with heritage properties in our community are watching this decision very closely,” Conway said. “This decision could resonate well beyond our borders.”

Clarington staff supported the committee, recommending council deny the demolition permit, stating the application did not “sufficiently justify the proposed demolition as the only option.”