Call for beach probe

Publication: Daily Nation
Paper Section And Page:
Paper Date: Wed, Mar 28, 2001

by Terry Ally BEACH GOERS are calling on the Town Planning Department to investigate a case of beach blockage in St James. It is at the property of Las Palmas near Holetown. Recently, what appeared to be construction rubble was dumped on top of existing boulders on the seaward side where the property’s guard wall was once located, making it extremely difficult and dangerous for barefooted beach users to navigate. The reinforcements also blocked two connecting beach paths from properties on either side. Over the weekend workmen started to erect a fence on the boulders and were told that if no one complained, they should continue. However, yesterday they removed it after someone complained. However, a fence still had to go up and they were awaiting further orders. Rachel Wilkie of Property Management Services which manages La Palmas, said that the fence would not go back up. "I can give you my promise that will not happen," she told the Daily Nation last evening.

The fence which was in the process of being erected at the weekend It was taken down yesterday but beach users still have difficulty in navigating the beach because of the boulders.

She said the larger boulders on the sand were there for many years but the contractor placed more boulders on top of them and then wanted to construct a fence in the middle of the boulders. Wilkie said the contractor was "absolutely adamant" that the owner, who lived in England, wanted the fence on top of the boulders which stretched for 140 feet but she resisted it because it made no sense. The contractor was fired. That was last September and a new one was recently hired and work restarted.

"I am very much in agreement and have been saying that the fence should not be there. If it is on the inside of the boulders it makes no difference to the house itself but it has a major effect on people walking along the beach, and at points in time there is no beach to walk along. More often than not, the sea is right up to the boulders especially at high tide," Wilkie said.

The Nation understands that a resident has written letters of complaint to the Town Planning Department and the Ombudsman urging an investigation.