With the support of its council, which includes the mayors of seven local municipalities, Northumberland County is removing an encampment off its property.

The encampment at 600 William St. in Cobourg will be cleaned up and removed at any time beginning noon Wednesday. 

It was previously set up at Cobourg’s west beach until the move to the current location around Aug. 25. The encampment is on county property near a building that includes paramedic services, as well as the Food 4 All Warehouse and other county departments like economic development, tourism, land-use planning, inspections and communications.

Lisa Horne, the county’s director of community and social services, says staff have been trying to engage with an estimated 15-25 encampment members on site to find solutions, but the encampment has been unauthorized from the start and is not sustainable. 

It was noted during a special county council session Tuesday that it’s been difficult for staff to meet with all the individuals because of a hierarchy that has been established at the encampment.

Council supported county staff’s decision to remove the encampment under the authority of the Trespass to Property Act. Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky said while she supports county staff, she was conflicted with the decision to remove the encampment and refrained from voting.

Integrity Investigative Solutions Limited and Cobourg Police Service will act as the county’s agents. A notice to members of the encampment warned that any property left will be discarded and not stored, and workers would be on site to provide support.

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