A much-loved seaside resort is heading into the busy summer season without its most famous tourist attraction.
Day trippers and holidaymakers will soon start to pour into Southport, but many will find themselves surprised to see its pier closed to the public. The pier - the second longest in the country - was suddenly blocked off late last year after significant damage was found.
That decision disappointed many in the town and forced the closure of Southport Pier Pavilion - the café and arcade which is located at the far end of the 1,000m long structure. Months on, there is still no end in sight and uncertainty surrounds just how long the closure may last.
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In the Victorian era, the town was among the very most popular resorts in the whole country as people travelled from across the nation and even further afield. Among the best known visitors were PT Barnum - who was portraited by Hugh Jackman in the The Greatest Showman - and Sherlock Holmes author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, reports Lancs Live.
The beach, the lido, and the pier itself were among the attractions which ensured people kept coming to the North West town as well of course as Lord Street, where the tree lined boulevards have long been famous for inspiring Napoléon III's reconstruction Parisian streets. The lido attracted huge crowds in its heyday but is now is long gone with its site currently occupied by Ocean Plaza retail park.
The pier itself has long been an important landmark. Since its construction in 1860, it has been the focal point of the town’s seaside heritage, having been visited by Charlie Chaplin, stopped at by steamers, and used as a base for searchlights during the Second World War.
Steamers eventually stopped being able to reach it and a large fire destroyed the pier head in July 1933. Storm damage also took its toll and the pier's condition deteriorated through the 20th century. In December 1990, a vote to demolish the Grade II listed structure was defeated by a single vote.
A brighter future followed as eight years later, the Heritage Lottery Fund saw almost £2m given to revitalise the pier. Restoration began in 2000 and it opened to the public in May 2002 thanks to work costing £7.2 million. A new tram was added that point but would eventually have to be replaced by a smaller train due to the damage it caused.
In summer 2022, Sefton Council outlined £3m plans to replace the wooden beams which comprise the pier's surface. These beams added to a total distance of 63 miles, it said. But in December, further damage was caused during freezing weather and led to the discovery of the dire state of the structure and what was initially planned to be a short term closure has turned into something much longer.
As it stands, it is not publicly known whether the pier will reopen at all this summer, with that possibility dependent on the results of expert surveys which will reveal exactly how much work is needed. Speaking earlier this year, the owners of Southport Pier Pavilion explained the impact the closure had caused.
In a scathing statement, they said: "We are, as you can all imagine, very frustrated with this and have received zero financial help as yet. Our business just stopped with zero days' notice, our stock went to ruin and our lives and that of our amazing staff paused.
"Some staff have literally had breakdowns because of this. It’s like lockdown all over again but with no help."
Other attractions such as the miniature railway and fairground have kept people coming to the town with Southport BID is among the groups working to ensure the town is attractive and well marketed. But, like all seaside resorts, the town has long faced a battle to remain attractive in an era when people can easily fly abroad for their holidays or do their shopping at out of town retail parks.
Changes are certainly incoming - the Town Deal has contributed towards major project including the replacement of the aging Southport Theatre and Convention Centre. Planning permission was last week granted for its demolition and the building of a new state of the arts events centre.
Other changes include the conversion of a four-storey Grade II Listed Crown Buildings into a high tech, collaborative and affordable workspace for small businesses and public realm improvements across the town centre.
Away from the town deal funding, the prospect of Southport moving on from its current retail-based offering can be seen in the number of shops which have been converted to bars across the both the town centre and its villages at Churchtown, Birkdale and Ainsdale.
The recent redevelopment of the former Grand Casino into an upmarket bar and wedding venue show signs of the confidence in the resort's future, while plans to open an indoor climbing centre on Lord Street offer another insight into potential change.
But in the short term, the issue of the pier continues to be a frustrating one for all involved. Dog walkers and day-trippers can no longer access it, the business forced to shut remains badly out of pocket, and its employees unable to work. As for the council itself, the issue remains a source of bad publicity and presents a damaging force against its tourism needs.
A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: "As previously stated the survey being carried out on Southport Pier involves a thorough and intrusive assessment of the 3,600ft structure Due to the detailed nature of this assessment and the complexity of Southport Pier's structure, the survey will take time to complete.
"However we will update both business owners directly and the public through our official communication channels as soon as possible." The spokesperson added: “We appreciate this is a frustrating time for everyone but health and safety remains our priority."
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