The future of public access to the Port Dover beach is under discussion.
FW Knechtel Foods Ltd. issued a release Friday saying it is having discussions with Norfolk County and neighboring property owners.
“Due to the substantial increase in the number of people using our properties in recent years and significant changes as to how beaches and parks will be restricting access to their properties, we have initiated discussions with our partners, neighboring property owners, and Norfolk County to produce a plan to go forward,” the statement said. “Our goal is to have a safe environment for our residents and guests to enjoy, and to protect the well-being of our family company.”
The company said it will provide updates as progress is made and hopes, in the end, to have a positive result for Port Dover and Norfolk County.
Concerns were raised when several ‘No Trespassing’ signs were installed around a huge swath of the Port Dover beach.
The signs, which were in place on Friday, cover a vast majority of the beach, which is private property, at the foot of Walker Street. Norfolk County owns a 66-foot wide strip of the beach as part of the Walker Street road allowance.
Although most of the beach at the foot of Walker Street is privately-owned, it has long been used by the public.
There weren’t many people on the beach Friday morning and those that were either wouldn’t talk about the signs or would only comment anonymously.
“It doesn’t look very welcoming,” said one woman, who was out for a stroll with her husband. “It can’t be good.
“The people here and the businesses rely on the crowds that come to enjoy the beach.”
She said she had never seen “No Trespassing” signs on the beach before.
Calls to the Port Dover Board of Trade seeking comment were not returned.
The beach was closed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. When other Norfolk beaches re-opened in June 2020, the Port Dover beach remained closed due to social distancing concerns. It re-opened in July 2020.
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