Concerns remain in North Preston after detour protest ends
Posted Aug 10, 2010 04:03:25 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The protest over access to a dirt road detour around bridge construction in the North Preston area is over, but residents say they’re looking for better communication with the municipality.
Demonstrators blocked Lake Major Road this week, claiming that they were being denied access to a private road because they’re black, while ten white households got keys to the gate.
That dispute has been solved by keeping everyone out.
Coun. David Hendsbee (Preston-Lawrencetown-Chezzetcook) says he called in some help on Tuesday.
“I asked the mayor to come out and meet with myself and the property owners of the roadway, and a couple of the business owners who’ve been significantly impacted by the blockade,” says Hendsbee. “The property owners of the private road have decided to restrict the access.”
Mayor Kelly told protesters that access to the shortcut would be restricted to only emergency workers and two homeowners who live on the private road.
He tells CTV demonstrators got their message across loud and clear
“The community did what they felt they had to do to bring those concerns to the forefront,” he said. “They did that, and we heard them.”
Hendsbee says the road was repaired with city money so it could be an emergency escape route for North Preston, and that’s what it’ll be once again, now that the property owner has decided to change the locks.
That may have settled the most immediate issue, but one protestor tells Global News North Preston’s residents need to get more involved with the people making the decisions.
“So many things happen behind closed doors and we as a community are not informed of them,” she said. “I guess it just shows that we can’t stand around and let everybody else do the talking for us.”
Metro News reports Mayor Kelly has agreed to meet with protestors next week to discuss a number of their concerns.
They’ll discuss issues from road and lighting conditions around North Preston to black representation on council.
