KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) says it has now assumed possession of the Walter Fletcher Beach on the Montego Bay Hip Strip, former home to the operations of AquaSol Beach Park, as of today, September 7, 2017.

The UDC in a statement today said the decision comes after the operators indicated “their inability to continue conducting business on the property,” ahead of the October 10, 2017 original expiry date of the agreement with the UDC.

The UDC said in taking possession of the property, it would be temporarily closing the facility to conduct an assessment to determine whether limited access by the public can be allowed noting that the “overriding factor will be the safety of patrons.”

The UDC, as part of the redevelopment for the Greater Montego Bay area, has earmarked the Waterfront which it holds as central to the sustainability of the life of the city. Already the UDC has sought and received funding through the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, for the first phase of groyne rehabilitation. The repair of the groynes is critical to protection of the shoreline and facilitating the redevelopment of the three beaches, Closed Harbour (Dump Up), Walter Fletcher and Gun Point.

The Walter Fletcher Beach is one of three beaches created by the UDC in the 1970s for public use. The UDC said that the Walter Fletcher Beach will continue to operate as a public beach in keeping with acceptable standards of public comfort and safety.