Sefton Council has confirmed Southport Pier will remain closed.
Southport's landmark tourist attraction has been closed since December 2022, and the council has not given a firm date for when it will reopen. In May of last year, a report by the council said the pier which first opened in 1860 was "rotting from within" and would cost £3m to repair.
During the cold weather snap in December problems increased for the pier when it was closed due to “significant and unavoidable damage”. Now it seems it will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
In December Southport Pier Pavilion a café at the end of the pier hit out at the council stating they are "frustrated" by the continued closure and expected the "work to be done".
According to the council, the extreme cold weather has "exacerbated existing damage to the decking". The council will now conduct "extensive" surveys to assess the extent of the damage before repair work can begin.
A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “We would like to thank everyone for their patience while we work hard to ensure Southport Pier is safe to reopen. Recent extreme cold weather has exacerbated existing damage to the Pier timber decking and we have taken the advice of independent structural engineers to temporarily close the attraction until repairs can be made.
"Extensive surveys will be taking place over the coming weeks and they will allow us to progress with all necessary works. Sefton Council had already earmarked over £3m for full refurbishment of the 160-year-old Pier’s decking, which had been showing signs of deterioration prior to the cold snap.
“Once an independent structural engineer confirms it is safe to do so, Sefton Council will reopen the Pier. Further updates will be provided in due course.”
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