Fishermen may lose year-round beach vehicle access (Surf City, North Topsail Beach: yard, vehicles)

[Bill Hitchcock]

Raising sand over vehicles
SUZANNE ULBRICH
September 16, 2008 - 12:50AM
NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH - Fishermen may lose their only year-round beach vehicle access if North Topsail Beach has its way.

The town's Board of Aldermen recently approved a resolution asking Onslow County, which owns and maintains Beach Access No. 3 at New River Inlet, to restrict vehicle access. The town has requested the Onslow County Board of Commissioners place pilings along the parking area and a cabled emergency entrance at the access.

Beach Access No. 3 at North Topsail Beach is the only place on Topsail Island's 26-mile-long stretch of beach that allows four-wheel-drive vehicles access to the beach year-round.

Surf City and Topsail Beach allow four-wheel-drive vehicles on certain sections of the beach during limited times of the year and issue permits for a fee.

The resolution states vehicles have damaged the dunes and wetlands and endangered bird nesting areas along the inlet.

Complete Story: Raising sand over vehicles

[Ellise]

Good news. Trucks don't belong on beaches. The fishermen will just have to get up off of their lazy asses and walk from the parking lot to the beach--quite a hike, about 100 yards. And hey, maybe they could even bend over and pick up their trash and put it in a barrel before they leave too.