Chatham-Kent is closing the municipally-owned road that leads down to Burns Beach.
With concerns about erosion causing hazardous conditions council voted 13-5 in favour to close access to the popular beach at their council meeting being held in Chatham on Monday night.
Access to Burns Beach is through the south part of the municipally-owned Dillon Road, which is a steep gravel laneway that leads down the bluff to the beach. In recent years, record high Lake Erie levels have contributed to accelerated erosion of the Lake Erie bluff face making access to the beach hazardous to the public.
Ryan Brown, Chatham-Kent’s Director of Public Works, said the public access road is unsafe, as it is adjacent to a 100-foot bluff down to rocks. Brown said he doesn’t think the access road should remain open.
“Retreat is the best asset management option for these assets,” Brown said.
Brown said it is dangerous and unsafe to maintain the narrow access road with a 40-foot grader. He said there is no way to put in a guardrail as it would not be stable.
Chatham councillor Michael Bondy said he has been going to Burns Beach for 30 years. He calls it a hidden gem that is usually pretty busy.
Bondy said the access road to the beach is not easy to maneuver but it’s not impossible.
“I think it’s a little bit of a nanny-state to say we have to block it off because it’s not safe enough,” Bondy said, noting nobody has fallen off the path and into the lake and closing access is unnecessary.
“I really don’t like the idea of closing down waterfront access.”
