Why Merseyside’s only pier will remain closed

It has been a long road for Southport Pier.

This week it was announced^[1] that repairs to the pier are now expected to cost £13m - more than £10m higher than previously estimated. It was the council's first announcement in months, leaving many with more questions than answers.

No time scale has been given for when Britain's second-longest pier will reopen and what will happen to those most affected by its closure. The ECHO^[2] has taken a look back at how events have unfolded so far.

Problems started in May 2022 when a report from Sefton Council said that the pier was "rotting from within"^[4]. In the same month, the council approved £206,053 of spending so the ‘Southport Pier Decking Project’ repair works could be undertaken.

In August the council approved a further £3 million to be set aside to complete the restoration. Aiming for the pier to be replaced at the end of summer with work continuing through the winter.

At the time the council said: “As part of the routine maintenance, it became apparent the pier decking was starting to fail in isolated areas.

"Their commendation is now to replace the entire decking after the 2022 summer season from October 2022 with most works taking place in the winter to ensure the Pier is fit for purpose, remains safe, and continues to be a critical historic asset for Sefton."

During the cold weather snap^[5] in December problems increased for the pier when it was closed due to “significant and unavoidable damage”. In the same month Southport Peir Pavilion a café at the end of the pier, hit out at the council^[6] stating they were "frustrated" by the continued closure and expected the "work to be done".

However, the council said "extensive" surveys were needed to be carried out before the pier could reopen. While information about the survey has been released by the council, the full report has still not been made public.

Silence from the council was finally broken in March 2023^[7] when they stated tickets for the Southport Air show would not be sold for the pier. Then darkness as the council went silent once again.

Earlier this month Cllr John Pugh spoke to the ECHO about the recent petition he had started^[8] to persuade Sefton Council^[9] to do "what it takes to fully restore the Pier".

As fears for its future continue to grow Colin Jamieson^[10] who owns Southport Pier Pavillion spoke out after being left marooned at the bottom of the pier.

Colin estimates he has invested over £1m in the business since he took over the lease in 2003. The dad-of-two said his income was already in decline when the council stopped the miniature railway from operating on the pier.

He told the ECHO: “No business can close no matter how strong it is and expect to carry on without money coming in for six months. I have got two daughters working down here and a son-in-law, they have all lost their income.

“I need to keep them afloat which is becoming more difficult as time goes by. It is getting to the point where we need compensation from the council or we will not survive.”

Cllr Marion Atkinson said: "I fully sympathise with all the business who have been affected by the closure and understand their frustrations while waiting for this independent report. But Sefton Council will always put the safety of the public and those companies’ employees first."

The update on Friday, June^[11] 23 from the council said it has received feedback which can inform the project's next steps. These steps will be presented at an emergency meeting of the cabinet on Thursday, June 29.

An independent survey is expected to identify that more than 25% of the pier’s decking is majorly damaged or in need of immediate replacement. This means the pier will remain closed until the full refurbishment job, which will include working on more than 14 miles of severely decayed decking, is completed.

The council said the capital costs of the works will also remain unconfirmed while the final survey report is awaited, and until construction tender feedback for a full refurbishment project is received. However, it is estimated that the full refurbishment works required to open the pier safely again could exceed £13 million - more than £10 million in excess of the £3m the council agreed to borrow to fund decking replacement. As a result, the council will look to secure funding to assist with the project.

Sefton Council^[12] leader, Cllr Ian Maher said: “This cabinet report makes sobering reading. It is going to be a huge and costly scheme, but the Cabinet is supportive of the proposal for a full refurbishment project.

“We recognise the pier’s importance in Southport’s^[13], in Sefton’s, and in the country’s seaside heritage as well as its popularity with the many millions who visit Southport’s wide range of attractions each year.

“The cabinet report also leaves me in no doubt that the decision to close the pier after last December’s extreme weather to ensure the safety of people visiting and working on the pier, although not taken lightly, was the right one.”

Receive our weekly Sefton Live newsletter and breaking news email alerts by signing up here^[14].

References

1. ^{^} was announced (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
2. ^{^} ECHO (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
3. ^{^} 70 incredible photos that capture life in Liverpool in the 1970s (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
4. ^{^} "rotting from within" (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
5. ^{^} During the cold weather snap (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
6. ^{^} hit out at the council (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
7. ^{^} finally broken in March 2023 (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
8. ^{^} the recent petition he had started (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
9. ^{^} Sefton Council (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
10. ^{^} Colin Jamieson (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
11. ^{^} The update on Friday, June (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
12. ^{^} Sefton Council (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
13. ^{^} Southport’s (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
14. ^{^} signing up here (data.reachplc.com)