Sydney Seniors Club says its future is threatened by the loss of free parking

A seniors’ club in inner-city Sydney, NS, can no longer use the car park next to its building for free.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality is converting 12-14 parking spaces used by Club 55 members into paid spaces. Each club member currently pays $15 annually to maintain the lot.

Louie Hawco, vice president of Club 55, anticipates that membership will drop by 90 percent if the municipality goes ahead with its plan.

“If we lose our membership, we lose the club,” Hawco said. “That’s the bottom line.”

The club, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, offers social activities that allow seniors to interact. Activities include chair exercises and darts.

Hawco said their building is easily accessible for those with walkers, canes and wheelchairs.

He said if people had to park a few blocks away, “half of them couldn’t do it.”

He said most seniors can’t be dropped off because many live alone and need a place to park their car.

Club member Anita Sampson Binder said this is not just a parking issue, but one of inclusion.

“This is part of how our members participate downtown,” Sampson Binder said. “Instead of negotiating a curb or parallel parking on Charlotte Street, they can park in our parking lot right here next door.”

The club has looked at buying a lot in the past

Hawco and Sampson Binder said they have been trying to renew their lease for the parking lot with the CBRM for the past three years, but haven’t heard back until recently.

cone Eldon MacDonald, who represents the area, confirmed this.

“That parking lot is now available to anyone who wants to park,” he said.

MacDonald said the club approached the CBRM to buy the lot almost 20 years ago, but the documentation required by the council was never received.

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