ell from my limited knowledge of the reasons there is only access for the longbeton n seaton burn club during the day [ weather permitting ] as the waves regulary come over the top makeing it very very dangerouse to fish ,,,we regularly fish on it during darkness as most ppl do after negotiating the fence and its a good place to fish if you know the right places [snag city or easy retrieve ] ide rather fish there than s/shields pier ...ps..another reason could be its in the local CONSERVATIVE AREA LOL ...ide like to think that most anglers who fish there at night are very responsible and rarely have i seen the pier in a mess like s/shields so they allow us to keep fishing there fingers crossed