A Southport Pier business owner says they have been left "blindsided and adrift" and "forced to survive on fresh air".
Opposition councillors had been eagerly awaiting the report’s release, having been discussed numerous times at full council. Following the release of the reports carried out by Thomasons the council said it was the right decision taken to have closed the pier due to the serious issues identified following a series of inspections carried out earlier this year.
Speaking to the ECHO yesterday , concession holder Colin Jamieson said the report was “as expected.” He said that while there were obvious serious issues with the pier, the inspection reports suggested a phased approach was possible. However, referencing a point in the structural steelwork report which states “It is further concluded that if the pier was limited to pedestrian access only, then some of the required remedial measures may be left and form part of an ongoing maintenance strategy over the forthcoming 5 year period”, Cllr Pugh said this approach could be “sensible.”
“It’s clear that works commissioned by previous administrations on Southport Pier have contributed to the situation we find ourselves in and those in leadership roles at the time must take some of the responsibility for where we find ourselves now. However, I don’t think the people of Sefton will find it acceptable to hear from Labour that there are no plans at the moment to immediately commence works on the pier because they say they don’t have the money.