Council to press ahead with £1.8m pier repairs

The work will strengthen the steel sheet-piled wall at Scarborough's West Pier

North Yorkshire Council will not reconsider its decision to approve £1.8m of repairs to Scarborough's West Pier after a challenge by coastal councillors.

At a meeting on Monday, the council's overview and scrutiny committee blocked a challenge by local councillors who said the plan was "short-sighted" and that alternative options were not considered.

Work to extend the lifespan of the pier will include repairing and strengthening the steel sheet-piled wall along the harbour-facing section of the pier.

Janet Jefferson, who represents the Castle division, said: "We need a lasting legacy for Scarborough Harbour and we need security for 50 years, not 10. Instead, we seem to have more questions than answers."

The cross-party committee concluded that the executive committee, which unanimously approved the repair plan, had appropriately considered various options and the "urgent" works should go ahead.

Jefferson had advocated for the full replacement of the West Pier's piles, which North Yorkshire Council estimated would have cost £5m, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

She told the committee: "The stabilisation of West Pier and the installation of replacement steel sheet piling will extend the life of the pier by 50 years, which is so vital to our fishing and leisure craft industry, and indeed the town's economy."

'Needs to happen ASAP'

However, Mark Crane, the executive member for open to business, said the authority could not currently afford more extensive repairs and that a contractor was ready to begin work, whereas a new plan could take up to a year to approve.

He said: "I can tell you that if we were spending £1.8m in Selby, the people of Selby would be very grateful, and probably not suggesting that we spend another £25m on top of it.

"Let's be clear, the decision we've made is to strengthen the West Pier and to keep it good for another 10 years."

Of the 150 piles in the West Pier, 15 currently have holes that need to be repaired to prevent further corrosion, according to Chris Bourne, the head of harbours.

"As the tide comes in, the size of the voids [in the piles] grows, and those piles have got about three years' life left in them," he said.

"Those holes need filling as soon as possible, and the plates welding over to stop the loss of material from behind - that needs to happen ASAP.

"So, you need to implement this £1.8m scheme to buy you 10 years to work on your next scheme, which is to reinforce the pier, and it could be to expand the pier as well."

Speaking to the LDRS after the meeting, Jefferson described the decision to proceed with the repairs as "short-sighted".

Councillor Phil Trumper said: "The last thing we want to see is the West Pier out of use and closed, and I think it does seem very important to get this work done very quickly.

"If we don't, then the West Pier will be closed, and that's the last thing we need."

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