The small town of Ilderton survives - for now

If you haven’t visited Ilderton recently I’d say take a chance.

It’s the poor step-child of a group of towns and villages in the area and keeps hanging on... and on... and you might learn something about how present day life goes on... and on - for now - while grabbing a slice at For Pizzas Sake and washing it down with a half pint of Guinness at the King Edward Pub.

I did.

I learned the town has good bones and good people.

For example, the Red Star Garage dates back to 1855 and looks good for its age; the friendly owner and his wife (Tony and Toni) have lived across the street for 45 years and will retire there.

I also felt the small place is a perfect example of unsustainable development, the kind that drives some environmentalists wild.

A once quaint village (in some respects) of 300 residents, with rural roots, is now 4 - 5 times as big and pre-dominantly serves as a bedroom community to hundreds of newbies who live in much larger homes than the original residents and are only outnumbered by nearby cattle, acres of corn and soy and the many cars, SUVs and pickups parked in new driveways.

“They’re (new residents) good for business,” said one woman as she poured me a cup of coffee.

“It’s crazy how fast it’s happening,” said another.

“Commercial businesses aren’t coming to town. And they didn’t build a bigger school, just added portables,” a third person told me while paying for ice cream cones for her three grand daughters.

Because the village amenities are in very short supply compared to the growing population, everyone seems to spend lots of time driving here, there and everywhere, to Lucan, Ailsa Craig and London for food, clothing, furnishings, hardware, recreation etc.

And because fossils fuels for cars and homes won’t always be as cheap as they are now, I feel the clock is ticking on communities like Ilderton.

I’d take a chance on another visit (The King Edward had Wellington Pale Ale on tap) but I wouldn’t want to live there.

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Do you live in a bedroom community? Do future expenses come to mind?

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