Members of a Richmond Co. citizens group say they want the St. Peter’s Coastal Trail to remain for walkers and cyclists only, and to continue restricting ATV use.
St. Peter’s Community Club members presented to councillors at May’s municipal council meeting Monday night.
Brian Marchand, Richmond Co.’s warden, said councillors contributed $30,000 from their recent budget for trail improvements and a consultant’s report on the trail system, and a letter was sent requesting Department of Natural Resources officials consider all-terrain use for the coastal trail.
Group members said riders only cared about access to St. Peter’s, not about how they got there; they also provided an existing trail as an alternative.
Riders responded, saying costs would be too high to convert and complete upgrades to make it an accessible off-road trail.
After the meeting, Marchand told The Hawk they want a fair solution.
“No one really wants to upset the great majority of people,” he said. “We want to do this where everybody, where the greater majority, are happy about it.”
Marchand said their role could be to meet with members from groups involved with trail use after analysis from the consultant is done.
He said he was under the impression an independent study was being done before these discussions.
“What we were kind of told was they’re waiting for the strategic plan for St. Peter’s to complete that.”
Marchand said it won’t be a quick process, based on the number of groups involved and analysis work that will be needed.