Warnings to be Given at Stoney Beach

Water lovers will be getting warnings from beach patrols about Stoney Beach, an unsupervised area near popular Lawrencetown Beach.

Beginning Saturday, July 1, a beach patroller from the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service will be present daily at Stoney Beach when the tide goes out to discourage swimming and to educate the public on the dangers of the nearby currents.

New signs will soon be in place to warn that the unsupervised beach is notorious for its strong currents and that swimmers should go to the main beach area of Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park. The patrol at low tide will continue daily into the September hurricane season.

"We have met and worked with residents in the Stoney Beach area to make changes that will better protect Nova Scotians," said Barry Barnet, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection. "But the beach remains unsupervised."

Local resident and writer Lesley Choyce, an advocate for improved safety on the unsupervised beach, welcomed the changes.

"I'm just thrilled that some attention is being given to a place that's potentially very dangerous to swimmers," said Mr. Choyce. "This is certainly a change for the better."