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NS News: Community unhappy with fence on path Achi-News

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Achi news desk-

A trail nestled among the rolling hills along Nova Scotia’s Gaspereau River has been a beloved local treasure for decades, but the community now feels threatened.

Nova Scotia Power is putting up a 100 foot fence near the trail and the community is not happy about it.

“I met the supervisor when they put up the no trespassing sign and he assured me that this was not about keeping pedestrians from walking, it was to protect him from the liability of children jumping off the bridge,” said Carole Doucet, community. member in Gaspereau.

For 50 years Doucet has been walking this path. She said this is where she and others in the community come together and catch up.

“Everyone meets here every day. We catch up on the gossip, we enjoy each other’s company, we get exercise, [and] the dogs are having a good time. This has been happening for generations,” he said.

Pictured is the Gaspereau River. (Source: Hafsa Arif/CTV News Atlantic)

Doucet said she was very frustrated.

“They force me to go into town in the winter and I don’t like being on the road if I don’t have to, so why should I have to go somewhere else to get my exercise? I live in this community. It’s not fair,” he said.

Nova Scotia Power owns the land and there is a hydro plant at the end of the canal.

“We must remember that this is a work site. We see a lot of trucks and heavy equipment coming and going, and people coming and going so we need to make sure the public is safe,” said Jacqueline Foster, spokeswoman for Nova Scotia Power.

A worker installs a fence on a path near the Gaspereau River. (Source: Hafsa Arif/CTV News Atlantic)

The river is often used for tubing or swimming too. Foster said injuries were reported on the trail and in the water.

“A member of the community who was walking had a medical emergency and our team stepped in to get them back to the main road so they could seek medical attention and with the increase in activity, we are trying prevent one of these situations from happening,” he said.

Some people in the community are unhappy with Nova Scotia Power’s lack of communication on its decision to add fences.

“We thought we might have some time to talk to them or consult with them but at eight o’clock on Monday the crews arrived and started drilling fence posts to block the whole thing,” said Julie Harrington .

Obstruction on a path near the Gaspereau River. (Source: Hafsa Arif/CTV News Atlantic)

On Tuesday night, at a community group, Nova Scotia Power said it will delay construction of the fence, but fencing continued throughout the day on Wednesday.

“They said we would have some consultation opportunities with them but we haven’t heard anything on when that would be,” said Harrington.

Nova Scotia Power placed an advertisement in a local paper informing the community of its intention to restrict access to authorized personnel only.

Others in the community say the route is the safest option.

“Our highways are in a bad state. We have no sidewalks and especially with an aging population, this is the only place in this community to walk safely,” Nancy McBay said.

Obstruction on a path near the Gaspereau River. (Source: Hafsa Arif/CTV News Atlantic)

McBay, who lives a few minutes from the trail, would have to drive into town if the trail were to close.

“To Lwybr y Clawdd or walk in the gym because it’s not safe to walk here. There are no sidewalks, more traffic, speeding traffic and walks that I used to do in this community I can no longer do,” he said.

Gaspereau Valley has two wineries, which keep the roads busy with tourists. That makes walking along the roads even more dangerous.

“I can’t walk on the road. It is not safe. There is no guard rail. People are driving like crazy and there is too much traffic,” said Doucet.

Many community members are unhappy with a fence on a path near the Gaspereau River. (Courtesy: Mark Davidson)

Nova Scotia Power’s original plan to fence the entire route has now changed. Instead, he strictly fences off the canal.

The power company plans to hold a meeting next week with the community. Some members of the community are hoping for a positive outcome, but are not sure if they will get it.

“At least I’m being heard and they can tell us about this sudden change. They said they were going to delay this but does it look like it has been delayed? No. So how can I believe them?” said Doucet.

For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.

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