Skelton Cline Blasts West End Seawall
Commentator Claude Skelton Cline has criticised the new Cox Heath sea defence wall, saying its height and design block motorists' views and alter the character of the coastal road between West End and Road Town. The government says the work is necessary to strengthen coastal protection after sections of the previous wall collapsed.
Commentator Claude Skelton Cline has taken aim at the design of the new Cox Heath sea defence wall, arguing the structure is too high and is changing the character of one of Tortola’s well-travelled coastal roadways. Speaking on his Honestly Speaking programme, Skelton Cline said the section under construction between West End and Road Town appears to rise about five feet and is blocking motorists’ sightlines to the sea and neighbouring St John. "These people have now built what looks like a five-foot deep [structure that] comes up five feet with a seawall that is now blocking the line of sight in part of the road drive to and from West End.
The wall forms part of wider road improvement works overseen by the Ministry of Communications and Works. Officials say the project is intended to strengthen coastal protection along a stretch of road that has been vulnerable to storm surge, erosion and deteriorating sea defences.
The Ministry has also pointed out that the existing stone wall had collapsed in several areas and required rebuilding. Skelton Cline argued that the new design unnecessarily alters a feature that has long contributed to Tortola’s appeal. "You are messing up the character and the contours of what makes the Virgin Islands and Tortola in particular special and unique," he said, urging the authorities to restore the older stone wall rather than replace it. "You would think that in the preservation and protection while you can still secure the seawall, protect from any surges, you would think that we would restore what has been lasting for the last 50 years.
Go break down that wall for God’s sake… Run that around. Don’t mess up the character and the contours of the Virgin Islands where you’re messing around down there." The dispute highlights a familiar trade-off for BVI residents: balancing coastal protection and public safety with preservation of scenic views, heritage and the island’s tourism appeal.
The stretch between Road Town and West End is a regular route for commuters, residents and visitors, and views across the sea to St John form part of the local landscape. As works continue, residents and motorists are likely to watch for further updates from the Ministry of Communications and Works.
Skelton Cline has called for a rethink of the design; any change would require technical assessment of coastal defences and consideration of both safety and aesthetic concerns.
Primary source: BVI News