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.
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Examination of the pier's condition uncovered more damage than had previously been realised and leaders are awaiting the results of survey work which will identify exactly how much work is needed before it can reopen. In the meantime, the town looks set to see one of its key attractions closed throughout the busiest period of the year Lancs Live reports.
As councillors assembled for a planning committee meeting last week, Conservative councillor Joe Riley warned the pier could have to be knocked down if its condition continues to worsen. That meeting also saw approval given to plans to build a £73m events centre on the site of the existing Southport Theatre and Convention Centre.
Now, the opposition Conservative group has attacked the Labour-run council over the state of the pier. The group's leader, Cllr Mike Prendergast said: "Like everyone in Southport, I am very concerned about the current state of our iconic pier, and the fact that it still remains shut as we enter the crucial summer season. Many local businesses rely on the pier to bring in visitors and increase footfall.
"Over a prolonged period of time, the pier has been neglected and allowed to fall into a state of disrepair. We are now at a point where it is potentially unsafe and is still closed to the public. £3m has been allocated to repair the wooden boards, but the entire structure now appears to have been neglected and is in need of urgent repairs as otherwise works regarding the wooden boards would surely have started."
He continued: "The pier is one of our most iconic attractions, and part of our heritage [...] Right now, though, we’ve got a situation where Sefton Labour, can’t even look after our existing assets. We are calling on Sefton Council to ensure Southport Pier is repaired and reopened as soon as possible. It is not acceptable to have it shut for so long."
In response, Cllr Marion Atkinson, Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, accused Cllr Prendergast of a "desperate attempt to win votes" in the upcoming local elections. She also argued that some of the issues associated with the pier's maintenance could be traced back to the Conservatives' time running the council.
Cllr Atkinson said: "Southport Pier is a treasured asset not just for Southport but the UK. Over the last 10 years, significant investment has been made into the Pier through general maintenance and improvements under Sefton’s Labour-led council. Sadly, the pier decking has come to the end of its life, which is earlier than it should have due to the materials and workmanship used when the pier was rebuilt in 2000. Labour were not in control at that time nor did we have responsibility for leisure and economic development. "
She said that factors including defects in the wooden boards chosen, and the thickness of those boards, and the length of the screws used combined with the cold weather have sped up the decline of the materials. "Phase one of the deck replacement has been completed while the Pier remained operational," she said.
"However, the council were instructed to close the Pier by structural engineers in December with further structural surveys now taking place. Fundamentally, the health and safety of residents and visitors will always come first. The main deck replacement project is underway with complex procurement exercises still in process.
"It's important to understand that this is a complex infrastructure project that involves sourcing specialist timber from West Africa and the correct contractors who have experience of working in marine environments. We will not take shortcuts on this critical project, ensuring future generations are not left with the fall out of substandard work and materials."
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