Wirral Council has issued an update on West Kirby's flood wall as some works may "continue beyond Christmas".
Work on the project began in June 2022 and continued through the summer. But there was much speculation that there may have been "issues" with the works after activity appeared to have stalled.
Wirral Council since confirmed that this was due to the "load testing process, which is an essential part of the project". While it "has taken a little longer than expected" to complete and review the load test results, the piling works themselves "have gone well".
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The ‘piles’ are up to 18 metres long and once installed will provide the foundations of a base slab structure before construction can begin above ground level. As piling work ends at each section, a programme of load testing then takes place to ensure they can bear the weight of the final construction.
Only once these tests have been completed in each section can the workers then move on to the next phase of construction, the council confirmed. However, despite initially being marked for completion in November, a new date of early 2023 has been given for West Kirby.
The "most disruptive" old concrete break-out works do still remain on schedule to be completed by October as planned and residents will shortly see steel reinforcement works taking place as work will begin on building back the promenade. This will involve installing the wall with integrated seating from October and then resurfacing the promenade area, starting at the north end.
The council statement said: "Lighting columns will then be installed. The programme is monitored and reviewed regularly and the current advice from the contractors is that the end date for the completion of the whole scheme could now be early 2023, not November as previously forecast.
"Although it is disappointing the remaining elements of the works will continue beyond Christmas, the council will be working with the contractor to open discrete sections of the promenade as soon as they are finished.
"Conscious of the need to comply with one of the planning conditions put in place in response to the Habitat Regulations Assessment, there is an ecological monitoring officer on site to ensure that none of the works or activities are causing significant disturbance to bird populations. This officer is also currently monitoring the anticipated return of the migrating birds that call West Kirby home during the winter months."
During the works, workers also discovered part of a sandstone wall near to the old baths site that it is believed was part of the original old baths structure. This will be left in place and built over to provide part of the foundation to the new open space to be formed at the old baths site.
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