Council bosses have hit back at a suggestion Southport Pier could be permanently closed or demolished.
The landmark structure looks set to remain closed throughout the summer after health and safety concerns forced its closure last December. That decision was prompted by damage caused during freezing weather conditions and was only intended to be a short-term measure.
Only months before the closure, Sefton Council had committed to a £3m investment to replace the wooden beams which make up the pier's surface, and council sources say it intends to press ahead with this plan. However, fears for the future of the jetty - which is the second longest in the country - were raised when a councillor publicly discussed rumours of a potential demolition or permanent closure.
