Councillor Paul Carr addressing Belleville city council on the issue of payday loans, March 26, 2018 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
A Belleville councillor is calling for restrictions on the number of payday loan businesses in the city.
At Monday night’s council meeting, Councillor Paul Carr called for a staff report with a recommendation to amend the zoning bylaw to limit the number of payday loan businesses and define the areas where they may operate.
Carr said there are 10 such businesses in the city right now, and “North Front Street is saturated with them.”
He cited the Poverty Roundtable and the Community Development Council helping the poor who use the loans.
PAY DAY LOANS CARR
Carr told council in one instance a $200 loan escalated to $31,752 over nine years.
Council approved the motion. A report is expected in April.
