Funding for pier repairs agreed
CITY leaders have given the goahead for “urgent repairs” to storm-damaged piers in Sunderland.
The Old North Pier, New South Pier and Roker Pier were all hit hard by Storm Babet in October, with total repairs expected to cost nearly £2m.
Now the city council’s cabinet has approved a £1.8m repair plan for the three piers.
The report to cabinet outlined that Old North Pier had an estimated total repair bill of £300,000, with £200,000 of repairs to its rock armour and £100,000 of concrete repairs to its deck area.
New South Pier has an estimated total repair bill of £1m with £700,000 of repairs to its lower deck and £300,000 to the upper deck, with emergency repairs to coping stones already completed. Roker Pier also has an estimated total repair bill of £200,000, with £150,000 for replacing granite coping stones and £50,000 for deck area repairs. Work on all the piers could begin in coming months.
Coun Kevin Johnston, cabinet member for Dynamic City, said the works aimed to “protect city assets and infrastructure”. He said: “Our piers are vital parts of our city, they are key structures that help protect infrastructure, businesses and residential properties along our sea, port and riverside frontages.
“The piers also mitigate against silt and sediment deposits in the Port of Sunderland’s navigation channel.
“These repairs will help prevent any further degradation of the piers, protect city assets and infrastructure, and help the day-to-day business and functionality of the port.”
Funding for the piers repair programme will be met by reallocating £1.8m from the Nobles Quay reconstruction works, with that work to be fully funded at a later date.