Burns Beach near Dealtown could be closing permanently.
Administration is asking Chatham-Kent Council to approve closing the private beach where Dillon Road and Lake Erie meet in Raleigh because it's unsafe.
Chatham-Kent Director of Public Works Ryan Brown said vehicles and pedestrians access the beach area using a steep gravel laneway that leads down the bluff, but record high lake levels have accelerated erosion of the bluff making it hazardous to the public.
"The beach area has almost entirely disappeared, and the area no longer resembles a traditional beach," wrote Brown in his report to Council Monday evening. "Significant safety concerns exist with the access laneway due to its proximity to the Lake Erie Bluff face and worsening erosion at this location. There is currently no protection provided to vehicles along the top of the bluff face adjacent to the laneway."
He noted a guardrail would offer protection for vehicles, but it would be very expensive to maintain because the bluff keeps retreating with erosion.
Burns Beach also doesn't have a proper turn-around for vehicles at the bottom of the laneway near the beach and that is dangerous for vehicles leaving the beach, according to the municipality.
"Vehicles are forced to back up adjacent to the unprotected bluff face so that they can exit the beach area properly," said Brown.
The municipality is still working with neighbours to address parking and privacy issues along Dillon Road after the closure as it is anticipated that pedestrians will continue using the laneway to the beach.
Brown noted the beach is unpatented land abutting the lake and is typically considered property of the province because there is no registered owner of the property.
The municipality said it is not interested in buying it and turning it into a public beach.
