Joe’s River in St Joseph remains open to the public following last November’s High Court ruling which permanently barred the erection of any obstruction along the public right of way leading to the historic Joe’s River Bridge.
A recent visit by the Sunday Sun found that the caution tape, which once blocked entry points to the gully, had been removed.
Only a few warning signs remained bolted to trees in the vicinity of Penury Estate, the property owned by Australian businessman Richard Hains.
Hains had been taken to court by a group of St Joseph residents who challenged the construction of a wall at the bridge and the placement of caution tape along the gully, arguing that the measures interfered with long-standing public access to the area.
In its decision, the High Court ruled in favour of the residents, ordering that “any structure of whatsoever kind, which has been erected in the path of the prescriptive public right of way by the defendant, its agents and or servants, shall be dismantled and be removed immediately by the defendant”.
The dispute over access to the bridge first surfaced publicly in 2023, though Hains had purchased the surrounding property in 2015 and later constructed his residence, Tenby Villa. As part of development works on the land near the bridge, he began erecting two guard walls in the area.
Residents of St Joseph protested the construction, arguing that the walls would effectively block routes they had used for years to reach the river and bridge.
Their action led to an injunction halting that phase of the project while the matter was heard before the court.
The issue resurfaced again when caution tape and signs reading “TENBY PRIVATE PROPERTY: Trespass at your risk” appeared along access points to the gully, further fuelling concerns among residents and visitors.
The Joe’s River Bridge area, which features a natural watercourse running through the gully, is a well-known rural attraction popular with hikers and explorers.
Government previously carried out renovation works there, including the reconstruction of the Joe’s River Bridge.
The river is notable as one of only two above-ground rivers in Barbados, making the location both an environmental feature and a point of interest for locals and visitors alike. (JRN)
