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Phase 1 of Long Bay Beach Management plan nears completion

Phase 1 of the Long Bay, Beef Island Beach Management Plan is nearing completion which includes the construction of public and taxi parking lots, and a beach dune protection barrier to protect the eastern sand dune from vehicular traffic while also facilitating its restoration. Photo: GIS
Long Bay Beach. Speaking to the rationale for Phase 1 works, Ms. Angela Burnett Penn, environmental officer, explained, said at the present, over 75 percent of the eastern beach dune vegetation has been destroyed, and many of the remaining trees are invasive species. Photo: Internet Source
Long Bay Beach. Speaking to the rationale for Phase 1 works, Ms. Angela Burnett Penn, environmental officer, explained, said at the present, over 75 percent of the eastern beach dune vegetation has been destroyed, and many of the remaining trees are invasive species. Photo: Internet Source
BEEF ISLAND, VI - Phase 1 of the Long Bay, Beef Island Beach Management Plan is nearing completion which includes the construction of public and taxi parking lots, and a beach dune protection barrier to protect the eastern sand dune from vehicular traffic while also facilitating its restoration.

This is according to a release from the government information service which added that Permanent Secretary in the Ministry responsible for Natural Resources, Mr. Ronald Smith-Berkely, stated that “Drop-off points at the central and eastern accesses of the beach will allow persons to offload vehicles and will also facilitate easy access to the seashore by persons with mobility challenge. Implementation of Phase 1 will work towards creating a beach we can all be proud of.”

"As the first phase of the project nears completion, as of Saturday, May 27, persons will be required to park in the public parking lots that are now established at the central access point and the eastern end of the beach. The taxi parking lot is also available for spill-over parking, on days when cruise ships are not scheduled to make calls at the port," the release added. 

75% of eastern beach dune vegitation destroyed 

Speaking to the rationale for Phase 1 works, Ms. Angela Burnett Penn, environmental officer, explained, said at the present, over 75 percent of the eastern beach dune vegetation has been destroyed, and many of the remaining trees are invasive species. 

The goal is to restore the beach dune to its former healthy state while leaving room for a picnic zone and other facilities. Installation of the beach dune protection barrier is critical to this effort as vehicles compact the sand, and degrades its habitat quality for nesting turtles and its function as an important sand reservoir, integrate to the long-term health and stability of the beach.

The final aspects of Phase 1 will include the erection of signage, and screening of the parking lots with hedges of plants, native to the beach environment to maintain the natural aesthetic of the beach with 2 of the Plan will follow shortly, and will continue throughout this 2023.

6 Responses to “Phase 1 of Long Bay Beach Management plan nears completion”

  • pat (27/05/2023, 16:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We want action
  • hmm (27/05/2023, 16:59) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    This place have only mad people working there. All the knowledgable ones left because of low pay , poor management and bad attitude.
  • Poor Planning (27/05/2023, 17:33) Like (2) Dislike (7) Reply
    Whatever they dreamt about is what they got up one day and decided to do. Those businesses on the beach are going to suffer. No one wants to park so far to walk. They going make people go to the other beaches instead of that one. Some of them already left because they were accused of cooking and selling food there.
  • perfect (28/05/2023, 10:23) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Keep all those heavy vehicles off the sand dunes and in the car park.
  • pete (30/05/2023, 13:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    thank goodness someone is watching the environment. visitors want to see natural beaches, not restaurants, trash and clutter. it is important to protect natural resources. I hope that goes for smugglers cove WE. it is getting cluttered with beach chairs like Cane Garden Bay, and restaurant truck that started illegally. then the parking lot got expanded and the sea grapes cut back. then the road was black-topped for speeding and traffic. there has to be oversight or once its gone it is gone for good. that goes for everything.
  • imagine that (30/05/2023, 14:50) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Long Bay Beech at Beef Island is being managed and supported by government for the benefit of the public and the businesses operated there. unfortunately our best beech on Virgin Gorda and most frequented (except the Baths) Savannah Bay, the beech just before Pond Bay where the Puerto Ricans hold their annual Christmas in July several days function is under a 99-Year lease to Little Dix Bay Resort. It's alledged that in 2019 the lease of Savannah Bay 99-year lease was down to 35 years remaining, and that the lease was further upgraded back to 99 years by the then Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Resources and Labour Hon Kendrick Pickering.
    It is worth noting that since the lease of Savannah Bay to LDB, Zero improvement has been done to the beach and area. Meanwhile unlike Long Bay Beef Island where small businesses can be operated by members of the community, no such businesses can be legally operated at Savannah Bay Beech and any attempt to use the beech for any event such of a money-making nature is prohibited by Little Dix Bay Resort. Further it is a known fact that residents who had temporarily attempted to hold week end Roll-away snacks and beverage operations has been written to and advised by the hotel that such activities are not permitted..


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