County moves on ATV policy for forests

Simcoe County council has passed a policy which will allow all-terrain vehicles (ATV) in its county forests.

County councillors passed a bylaw which will allow the county to enter into agreement with the Central Ontario All Terrain Vehicle Club and the North Simcoe All Terrain Vehicle Club to use the forests under certain circumstances.

County warden Tony Guergis said after the meeting that the bylaw was designed to meet the needs of all residents.

"It came in with all residents in mind. Obviously, we are going to consider the nature of our forests," he said which would be considered along with the wishes of ATV riders.

Guergis said that he thought that the use of ATVs was comparable to snowmobiles which are also allowed access to the county forests.

"We do see that these vehicles are legally sold but their use has to be in line with other users of the forests," he said.

"I would have liked the province to have come with a policy for their use throughout the province but they haven't done it. It seems the same as the no smoking policy which was left to the municipalities to handle and then they came in after with a provincial plan," he said.