Sefton Council says it is committed to pursuing any funding means possible to secure the restoration of Southport Pier.
Earlier this month, the council took a positive step forward when it was granted Listed Building consent for potential works to take place.
Extensive plans for how work would take place were submitted by Sefton Tourism last year, having been drawn up working alongside established Southport firm RAL Architects.
Sefton Council recently submitted an Expression Of Interest to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a potential £10 million funding package – the maximum possible.
They have been advised that the funding required is not available to them at this moment in time.
However, Sefton Council does have the opportunity to submit a revised Expression of Interest later this year.
It is a big ask – for a substantial scheme of repairs to the second longest pier in Britain.
At last night’s Budget meeting, Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson said Sefton has “done all within our power to be ready to replace the pier when the money becomes available, we have a plan. We have commitment.”
Having Listed Building Consent in place will ultimately support Sefton in its ambitions to seek sufficient public funding for repairs either through the Government, or national bodies such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
On 31st January, over 400 members of the public, local businesses and local politicians packed into Silcock’s Pier Family Restaurant for an Open Meeting about Southport Pier, demonstrating the huge public will locally to see the landmark attraction reopened.
In a recent poll of over 1,700 people in the Stand Up For Southport Facebook group, 97% of local people wanted to see Southport Pier reopened.
In last night’s speech, Cllr Marion Atkinson said: “Sefton Council has done all we can, and we will continue to do so for the Pier.
“On top of the average £462,000 every year in the six years lead-up to the closure, we also allocated £3 million to replace the boards and found what everyone in this chamber knows is a flawed and unrepairable structure.
“We funded structural work to identify the true costs for a full replacement.
“We applied for Listed Building Consent for the works, have submitted an expression of interest to the Heritage Lottery fund who very politely told us they would not be inviting us to make an application to the fund at this time.
“But that won’t stop us. We will apply again when the time is right. We have done all within our power to be ready to replace the pier when the money becomes available, we have a plan. We have commitment.
“The Council will continue to apply for funding and speak to interested parties, we will continue to raise the profile of the pier, but let’s be clear, the bottom line is the need for money, which the council does not have.”
Listed Building Consent for potential Southport Pier repairs was officially approved by the local authority’s Planning department at the start of February.
Chief Planning Officer Derek McKenzie said in his report: “The pier is a focal point of the town, part of its identity and a significant tourist attraction”.
“The benefits of the works are that they will enable the pier to be brought back into use, the associated regeneration and economic benefits that it brings to Southport and its businesses who heavily rely on tourism.”
The replacement and repair works at Southport Pier would involve the decking and supporting steelwork.
It would also include the refurbishment and reinstatement of handrails and seating pavilions.
Southport Pier is a Grade II Listed Building.
It is one of Britain’s longest standing pleasure piers and is more than 3,600ft in length, making it the second longest in the UK.
The Pier opened in 1860, and celebrates its 165th birthday this year.
Its current appearance has evolved as the result of various works and repairs over its extensive life.
Following extreme weather, the Pier was closed for safety reasons in December 2022 owing to the need for structural repairs.
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