Pier viewing platform to reopen to the public

The upper section will be reopened from Monday

Part of a pier that closed for safety reasons five years ago is to be reopened to the public, Medway Council has said.

Rochester Pier was closed in 2019 after inspectors declared it unsafe. The lower section had collapsed into the river.

A council spokesman said: “The upper section of Rochester Pier will be re-opened to the public to be enjoyed as a part-covered viewing platform."

He said the platform had views across the River Medway and to the "iconic" Rochester Bridge.

A part-covered viewing platform has views across the river and to Rochester Bridge

The council had been working closely with volunteer group Friends of Rochester Churchfields and Esplanade to improve the upper section by repainting planters and preparing railings for a fresh coat of paint, he said.

A spokeswoman for the volunteer group said the priority had been to get the pier gates opened to the public again as soon as possible.

She said a full schedule of renovation work was taking place over the winter, amid talks of a potential “relaunch” event in the spring.

The council said Rochester Pier would be open to the public every day starting on Monday, with gates open from dawn to dusk.

Rochester Pier was closed in 2019 after it was declared unsafe