8 p.m. Westport beach lot closing irks some

Commission says safety concerns, litter led to change

By Bruce Burdett
Posted 6/15/17

While some evening visits to the town beach may involve little more than quiet enjoyment of the sunset, other can be a bit more rambunctious — and a lot more messy, says the towns Beach …

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8 p.m. Westport beach lot closing irks some

Commission says safety concerns, litter led to change

Posted

While some evening visits to the town beach may involve little more than quiet enjoyment of the sunset, other can be a bit more rambunctious — and a lot more messy, says the towns Beach Commission.

Which is why the commission voted to lock the Cherry & Webb Beach parking lot at 8 p.m. instead 9 as had been the case. It is unlocked the next day at 8 a.m.

The decision came as a surprise and disappointment to some.

“My husband came back from fishing at dusk recently and found a note attached to his car informing him of the new closing time,” wrote Olivia McCullough in a letter to Shorelines.

The decision spoils a summer pleasure, she wrote.

“One of the many joys during our 20 years of owning a place in Westport is watching the sunset while sitting on the beach. My husband loves to fish during those dusk hours.  

“It is a quiet time, the crowds are gone and the air cooler. But this year for some reason, the Westport Beach Committee has decided to change the closing time from 9 p.m. to 8 p.m.,” Ms. McCullough added.

Another man, who asked not to be identified, said the early closing cuts into some of the day’s best fishing, that hour or so just before and after the sun sets.

“If I can’t park in that lot, I can’t drive to he beach, and if I can’t drive there, I miss out on one of the best things abut summer in Westport … another case of too many rules.”

“In the darkness out there, sometimes crazy things happen,” said Tim St. Michel, Beach Commission chairman.

“We have groups that come out there with beer, even kegs, and have big parties out there … And we are left with the mess.”

Which means going out and cleaning up the bottles, cans, broken glass and leftover firewood, often with nails, before beachgoers are hurt the next day, “or complain that the beach is is a mess,” he said.

Mr. St. Michel said there have also been vandalism problems — lifeguard chairs have been among the targets in the past — and “with drinking there after dark comes safety issues.”

“The decision was all about safety and security on that beach,” he said.

One problem with the new rule arose right away, however.

The Beach Commission volunteer charged with locking the gate at 8 p.m. would arrive to find a car or two still in the lot.

“And that means he has to go out and look for (the driver),” Mr. St. Michel said. “It’s a very big beach and that person could have gone in either direction or up into the dunes. We do make an effort but there is only so much time we can look.”

The volunteer typically “shouts as loudly as he can,” but if there is no response, “he has to go back and lock the gate.”

At that point, the only way out for the late parker is to call police who have a key.

Mr. St. Michel said he understands why some are unhappy and sorry that a few ruined it for others, “but we can’t just ignore it.”

He added that there are other shoreline places in town to fish after 8 p.m. And if someone is able to walk into the beach without parking in the lot, “there’s nothing we can do about that.”

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