SHOCKING photos taken by a resident expose the “true state” of Bournemouth Pier as the council reveals repairs will not be completed until 2026.
Photographs shared with the Daily Echo by a resident show the deteriorating damage to the structure of the pier including rotting wooden legs, missing plates and corroding steps.
The resident said: “This is the true state of the pier, I took these photos on a spring tide Sunday that shows the severity of it all.
“I bet the council don’t know half of what’s got to be done, and a lot more money than what they have been allocated.”
BCP Council has been granted £9.5m to repair the structural engineering of the pier through the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
A contractor is expected to be appointed later this year in order to begin works in winter 2024/25.
However, the council has confirmed that works are not expected to be completed until 2026.
Councillor Millie Earl, deputy leader of BCP Council, said: “Bournemouth Pier is a complex construction that’s based upon a largely submerged reinforced concrete substructure, needing complex restoration work to protect it from corrosion for the next 25 years in its harsh aquatic environment.
“These works require several mandatory environmental approvals, including from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
“Tender documentation is currently being prepared for design and delivery of the scheme and we hope to appointment a contractor later this year and complete works during 2026.
“The project is being funded through a £9.5m grant awarded by UK Government through its Levelling Up Fund.”
Residents similarly hit out at the state of the pier two years ago in 2022, saying it was one of the town’s biggest assets and it looked ‘awful’.
The year before a campaign was launched by Susan Whitton to ‘save the pier’ after she accused BCP Council of letting it ‘rot into the sea’.
BCP Council commented in January that it aims to keep the pier open during the repairs, to minimise disruption to businesses and the public.
However, there may be times sections of the pier must temporarily close to ensure safety for all.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel