HAMPTON — The so-called "walking mall" at Hampton Beach that closed off a section of Ocean Boulevard will not be returning this summer, if the decision is left in the hands of the town. Hampton Police Chief David Hobbs told selectmen he’s recommending a normal traffic pattern for the beach, keeping Ocean Boulevard open northbound and Ashworth Avenue open southbound, this summer. "I strongly believe the best thing for this entire community, for public safety reasons, is that we return to a little bit of normal as Hampton Beach was designed," Hobbs said. In 2020, a portion of Ocean Boulevard from A to O Street was closed to vehicular traffic from May to Labor Day per the governor’s order as part of plans to reopen the beach after it was shut down in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The road closure was intended to allow room for social distancing and it was recommended by a local task force made up of Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce members and town officials, including police and fire.