Work was planned to start later this year on the landside buildings to enable them to reopen to the public in 2025 Picture: North Somerset Council

Work to restore Weston’s Birnbeck Pier gets underway

Tait ap EllisOctober 8, 20240 Comment0

THE first phase of a restoration project for Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare began this week.

The work, led by contractor Teignmouth Maritime Services, includes the removal of asbestos, repairing the sea walls, stabilising work to the 1888 boathouse and installing security fencing and welfare facilities.

This first phase is being funded from an allocation of £4.47m government funds.

The second phase will see the restoration of the pier itself and re-establishing the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) lifeboat station on Birnbeck Island.

A planning application for the pier itself was submitted by the RNLI in September and North Somerset Council said a separate planning application for the creation of a new lifeboat station on the island will be submitted soon.

Work is planned to start later this year on the landside buildings to enable them to reopen to the public in 2025.

Councillor Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council’s executive member responsible for the Birnbeck Pier project, said: “This is a red-letter day for Weston-super-Mare. Many years’ significant effort has led to this.

“Hard work not just from the council but the many people within our local community, including the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust and the Friends of the Old Pier Society.

“I must of course acknowledge and thank the UK government who are funding this element of the project.

“I hope that physical work starting on site will silence those who may have thought that this day would never come!

“I urge everyone to get behind this fantastic project and show their support for restoring this site of significant importance to our country’s heritage, and which will once again be of significant economic benefit to the town and wider area.”

Peter Stenner, managing director of Teignmouth Maritime Services, said: “We’re delighted to have been entrusted by North Somerset Council to deliver the first stage of work within the prestigious Birnbeck Pier project.

“We look forward to continuing our working relationship with the council.

“The project will be delivered by one of our most experienced marine civil engineering teams with an impressive track record for successfully delivering island-based projects throughout the UK.”

To find out more about the Birnbeck Pier project, visit the information hub next to the pier or the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/birnbeckpierproject.