Opponents of ATV use on St. Peter's trail say they are not being heard

Opponents of ATV use on the three-kilometre St. Peter's Coastal Trail in Richmond County say their concerns aren't being heard.

The trail is located along a former rail bed that runs between the Richmond County village and the nearby community of River Tillard.

The provincial government along with an independent consulting group are seeking input from local residents about preferred use for the trail, which prohibits motorized vehicles.

The St. Peter's Community Club and the East Richmond ATV Riders Society each want authorization from the province to manage the trail.

The community club, which opposes ATV use on the trail, says miscommunication and poor organization on the province's part have led to division among area residents.

"We're really upset that the government has pitted community against community," said the community club's Clair Rankin. "There's friends that are arguing against each other, the communities are arguing with each other."

Province defends format

In its latest effort to address management for the trail, the province hired Halifax-based ATN Strategies to carry out several forms of consultation that will result in a report.

Ama Lorenz of the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage said there is no timeline for the final report. Lorenz said a meeting earlier this month in St. Peter's attracted about 175 people from around Cape Breton.

"The consultation process respects both perspectives [regarding ATV access]," Lorenz said. "The goal is to ensure that any decision aligns with the broader community's values and interests."

Rankin attended the engagement session earlier this month. He said at least a dozen people left in frustration.

"We couldn't even ask questions about what we were looking at," he said. "It was really poorly planned."

Councillor hoping for consensus

There was no response to interview requests sent to several executive members of the ATV riders' group.

But Amanda Mombourquette, the municipal councillor for the area, said she understands the desire of ATV users to have greater access to St. Peter's and its stores, restaurants and other amenities.

"They've looked for … ways to bring ATVs into the village of St. Peter's," Mombourquette said.

"The reality is that this is the remaining alternative, along the coastal trail. And the business community in St. Peter's is, by and large, very much supportive of this because they see the opportunity to grow their business during the off-season months."

At the same time, Mombourquette insisted that the trail remain accessible to pedestrians, particularly those with mobility issues.

Homeowners to have their say

The next stage in the consultation process will involve meetings with homeowners along the trail.

Rankin said the community club plans to hold its own conversations with the homeowners, as well as launching a signage campaign and speaking to St. Peter's schoolchildren and seniors' groups to promote the trail as a non-motorized walkway.