UPDATED
The removal of sand from Foxes Bay beach is an effort to prepare for the turtle season says Hon Minister of Environment Claude Hogan.
The minister was responding to complaints that the sand on Foxes Bay was being mined.
Residents were being urged by other concerned citizens to write the authorities and express dismay at sand being removed from the beach.
In these Bob Lutz photos taken on Thursday, June 2, we can see heavy equipment which was used to clear sand from the beach.
To date Jean Kelsick and other residents have been writing emails and letters to officials encouraging them to take action.
“I hope that as many members of the public as possible will write individually to the Governor, the Premier, the Ministers of Government and the Montserrat National Trust calling on Government to put a stop to sand mining at all beaches north of Barton Bay in Plymouth,” Kelsick said in an email.
Minister Hogan responded to Mr Kelsick with the following: “what you have reported is not damage, but a work in progress to achieve some specific goals including improvement to the beach head and just ahead of the turtle season to allow them to come ashore as the beach head is currently steeped in sand.
“This is an occasional exercise, and in future I will have you and indeed the public notified of what will happen before it happens. The method of initially using an excavator from a static point does present a ghastly effect, but you have stumbled upon phase 1 of the exercise, I can assure you.
“I am fully aware that the demolition of Gun Hill and the filling in of Piper’s Pond have left us all in a state of high vigilance even with regard to customary activities, which have a positive outcome for the Environment.”
Foxes Bay has become quite popular for beach goers since the opening of the area to 24-hour visits.
