“Once the beach is gone, it is gone.”
That from NDP MHA Jim Dinn on work underway at Ragged Beach in Witless Bay.
Protesters gathered at the site this morning, along with contractors and RCMP. The NDP caucus—Allison Coffin, Jim Dinn and Jordan Brown—also attended the scene.
(Photo shared by Lorna Yard via Facebook.)
Dinn released a statement on Wednesday calling for a 12-month moratorium on all development on Ragged Beach.
The town and province have both indicated that work at the site has to do with shoring up the beach and protecting it against erosion, but area residents fear it is part of efforts to develop the area, which is part of the East Coast Trail.
The East Coast Trail Association has also called for a stop to work at Ragged Beach.
That, the association says, follows failed attempts to meet with Witless Bay Town Council, and work with the provincial government to preserve the area.
Dinn says residents are fed up dealing with the Town of Witless Bay. He says if the town council is not willing to take steps towards protecting the beach, he believes it is time for the provincial government to step in to stop the work until all the facts are in place.
Dinn says they need to make sure people are not destroying a beach that could have implications on the bird sanctuary.
