Access To Public Beaches

The Editor
The Anguillian

Dear Sir,

MORE LOST ANGUILLA BEACHES

Almost 2 years ago, 10 representatives of government – including 3 ministers – toured the West End beaches with the West End Concerned Group, and committed to improve beach access and correct several building abuses. Let’s take a look at what progress – or lack of progress – has been made.

Merrywing Bay – All beach access has been eliminated by Temenos/Flag, and this is now a private beach. Access can only be gained by parking at the Cove jetty and walking ½ mile plus. And since they consider this their private beach, Temenos has constructed a 75’ X 75’ landscaped wooden patio right in the center of the public beach.
Maundays Bay – The re-located guard house at the entrance – built on Crown land and where you need to stop and “ask” permission to go to the beach – is still in place after being told it would be removed by March, 2007. Also, Cap Juluca has extended George’s Restaurant with a large tent on the public beach, serving meals 7 days a week. This has been in place since before Christmas.

Shoal Bay West – At Covecastles, the portion of the new villa, which GoA agreed was built on Crown land, is still in place after being told on the tour it would be removed. Also, the last 2 villas have had large boulders placed at the water’s edge on the beach to stop the seasonal erosion of the illegally landscaped beach in front of the villas. The west end of the beach is now blocked to all access, and one can no longer walk to Sherrick’s Bay. Strangely, this also keeps people from walking in front of Bob Johnson’s villa!
Sherricks Bay – The only access road on private property has now been blocked and, with the blocking of access from Covecastles, this beach is no longer accessible except for the end villa at Covecastles. This villa now has a private beach!

Barnes Bay – Although there is a clearly marked public beach access road at the west construction entrance to Viceroy, along with marked public beach parking areas by the workers’ trailers, our group last week was refused entrance and told to use the non-public entrance at Mango’s (private property). Even when this entrance was available at Viceroy, visitors were required to walk behind all the living quarters for the workers then around rocks to the beach – about a ½ mile trek. As of today, there is no public access to Barnes Bay.
Meads Bay – One of the more spectacular beaches, access is available only at the west end through an unmarked construction entrance at Viceroy (our group was allowed in), and in the east, next to Malliouhana – but with very limited parking. This beach sorely needs a public access in the center and parking areas.

While readers may think this is another “anti-development” tirade, it’s not. Several years ago, Ku and Madeariman built boardwalks on the beach at Shoal Bay and – although a few people complained to officials – they were never made to remove them. So why shouldn’t other developers and businesses do what they want with beaches? No one’s going to stop them! While all this is happening, where is the Tourist Board, the National Trust (of which I am a board member), the AHTA, Planning, Environmental – and our Ministers? Developers are forced to submit EIA’s but there is no one to enforce them or check compliance. Perhaps when the children of today are grown and looking at Anguilla’s beaches through chain link fences, someone will take some action. Please start asking our elected officials at public meetings what their plans are to protect public access to ALL beaches in Anguilla and to enforce the existing beach protection regulations.

Steve Donahue
West End