Southport businesses 'suffering without its pier'

The ongoing closure of the pier is a "big blow" to the resort, says Southport Pier Pavilion's owner

The future of one of the country's oldest seaside piers remains in doubt due to an ongoing row about who should pay for its refurbishment.

Southport Pier, which is also the second longest in the UK, has been shut since December 2022 because of "serious health and safety" concerns.

Sefton Council closed the Grade II-listed pier, which first opened in 1860, on the advice of structural engineers after a period of extreme weather.

Colin Jamieson, owner of Southport Pier Pavilion, said the attraction's continued closure was a "big blow" to the town and "devastating" for local businesses.

'Stalemate'

According to local residents, the pier's closure has significantly affected Southport's leisure and tourism offer, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Mr Jamieson said: "The town is suffering without the pier being open and all the other businesses say so.

"My businesses on the pier have been devastated by the closure, with no help from the council to keep us afloat.

"All we can hope for is they get the money as soon as possible and get the pier reopened by next April."

The project to restore Southport Pier seems to have hit a stalemate, however.

Councillor Paulette Lappin, cabinet member for economy, regeneration and skills on Labour-run Sefton Council, said: "We continue to do everything we can so that when funding is secured to repair the pier we will be in a position to start work straight away.

"We continue to speak with various organisations about what support they may be able to provide but at the moment there is no further news."

Liberal Democrat Councillor Mike Sammon posted on X: "Everyone of all ages and backgrounds want to see it reopened, whether they were born Sandgrounders living here all their lives, or have moved here to settle from abroad."