A small group of protesters gathered at the site of road construction in Witless Bay this morning.
The Witless Bay Town Council gave the go-ahead to construct the road through Crown Land to access a piece of property in the area.
Protester Lorna Yard says she’s worried that could open up the area near Ragged Beach for future development.
The Friends of Ragged Beach have an action before the Supreme Court seeking an appeal of the decision allowing the road to go through. They want to halt the work until they hear from the Supreme Court.
Ron Harte, the man who acquired the land through squatter’s rights, says his family has worked the property for generations, and he wants to pass it down to his daughters.
Harte says he has the right to access the property through Crown lands and he’s had nothing but grief for the last number of years. He says he’s been slandered on Facebook and called a criminal and tells VOCM News it’s been hard.
Harte says he had no idea that 11 years later he would be nowhere when it comes to developing his property. He spent his childhood tending his parents crops here. @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/tHiw2U6FEN
— Gerri Lynn Mackey (@GerriLynnMackey) May 14, 2021
