Access to Burns Beach will close after much discussion at Monday's council meeting.
Councillors John Wright, Michael Bondy, and Anthony Ceccacci all put forth questions and concerns in favour of retaining access to the private beach where Dillon Road and Lake Erie meet in Raleigh.
"I have been going there at least a couple times a year for the last 30 years," said Bondy. "The concern in the report is the access from Talbot Trail... it is a downward slope and there is a turn, it is not very wide, it's not the easiest thing to maneuver but it's not impossible."
Bondy told Council that he didn't like the idea of shutting down waterfront access, and believed people would go regardless and cause problems parking on the street.
Ceccacci questioned if the beach was being closed because it was not considered a municipal beach or because of the unsafe nature of access to it. He asked if it would be possible to have access remain open but only to foot traffic.
Chatham-Kent Director of Public Works Ryan Brown said that was not the plan with this proposal. Adding, "I cannot recommend that this is a suitable public access."
Council ended up agreeing with Brown, voting 13-5 in favour of closing access to Burns Beach.
