Council 'ready to go' on Southport Pier works

Works to repair Southport Pier could start within weeks of funding being agreed, a council leader has said.

The Victorian structure has been closed over safety fears since December 2022 and has an estimated repair bill cost of £13m.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed last month the pier would benefit from cash from a new fund aimed at speeding up "forgotten" local projects.

Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson the authority would be "ready to go within six to eight weeks" of receiving the government money.

Ms Atkinson told BBC Radio Merseyside she was "delighted" at Ms Reeves announcement.

A council representative said the authority is awaiting further details on how to apply for the new Growth Mission funding.

"We're absolutely wanting to get on with it," Ms Atkinson said.

"I think it will probably take between 12 to 14 months for it to go from start to finish.

"We'll be looking at ways in which, if we can, to get it done as quickly as we possibly can, but it does take a lot of time because there's a lot of work."

Southport Pier was shut by the council in 2022 on the advice of structural engineers.

The closure has had a significant impact on the town's leisure and tourism industry with many residents and local business owners keen to see the pier reopened.

Ms Reeves described the pier as "an iconic symbol of coastal heritage" when she announced the funding boost in June, and said the investment would create jobs and new business opportunities.

Ms Atkinson said lessons will be learned from a previous unsuccessful attempt to repair the pier and the authority will ensure the right materials and construction methods are used.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.