Damage to Southport Pier discovered as landmark ‘rotting’

The damage to Southport Pier has been revealed in a new report detailing historic failings which have led to the structure ‘rotting’.

Southport Pier is the second longest in the UK and is a renowned historic asset. It was closed by Sefton Council in 2022 on the advice of engineers after a period of extreme weather.

Subsequent analysis of the pier’s structure determined that the popular attraction was no longer safe to use, and it has been closed for the past two years. During this time, local residents and visitors have been eager for the pier to reopen, while many local business owners depend on it for survival.

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In the hope of establishing a way forward and assessing the full extent of repairs to Southport Pier, Sefton Council commissioned AE Yates to carry out an investigation into the structural integrity of the pier at a cost of £400,000 – this work was subsequently subcontracted to Thomason Partnership Limited.

The report criticizes previous attempts to maintain the levee, the historical failure to implement effective repairs, and presents photographic evidence of deterioration and erosion of the levee’s foundations.

Thomason’s statement: “The current state of the pier has been affected by various problems since the significant multi-million pound refurbishment work carried out in 1998-2002 which has left Sefton Council with inherent latent defects.”

A complete refurbishment of the pier was carried out twenty years ago, but this refurbishment is cited as the main cause of the existing problems, with numerous faults in the way the work was carried out and the materials used.

In section 5, the report adds: “The extent of damage to the deck and numerous areas of the structure have reached a point where the breakwater is now considered unsafe for public access.”

For anyone hoping for a detailed timeframe for the reopening of Southport Pier, the 56-page report by Thomason Partnership Limited will add further angst and frustration.

According to local residents, the closure of the pier has significantly affected Southport’s leisure and tourism offer. However, due to the financial costs of renovation, any possible reopening has been put on hold.

Colin Jamieson is the owner of Southport Pier Pavilion and his business has suffered since it closed in 2022. Colin is very clear about the impact the closure has had on him and his colleagues. Colin said: “The town is suffering without the pier open and all the other businesses are saying so.

“My businesses on the pier have been devastated by the closure with no help from the council to keep us afloat. All we can hope for is that they get the money as soon as possible and have the pier reopened by April.

Due to budget constraints, Thomason believes it is impossible to present a “definitive scope” for repairs until the existing flooring is removed. There is also a suggestion that some off-site work may be more financially prudent – although no work is scheduled.

The financial investment to restore Southport Pier is beyond the means of Sefton Council, who say they are actively looking at funding options for the necessary repairs – expected to total around £13 million. Although £3 million has already been set aside for works on the pier, Sefton Council leaders have said they simply do not have the funds to pay for the work themselves and are proactively seeking external funding sources to repair and reopen the pier.

Commenting on the latest report, Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson said: “The latest Pier report reaffirms, as have other independent reports, that we have made the right decision to close the pier for safety reasons due to the legacy of problems that I inherited. .”

Cllr Atkinson added: “The report highlights the poor condition of the steelwork due to substandard preparation in 2002. The report makes it clear that due to problems with the work carried out in 2002, the opportunity to implement a cyclical maintenance program was created. lost.

“Furthermore, the report identified poor fixing of railings and areas of the wharf which are not suitable in their current configuration to support areas susceptible to overcrowding.”

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