56 miles of new decking planned for Southport Pier refurbishment starting in October

More than 56 miles of decking boards will be used on the refurbishment of Southport Pier, the same distance as travelling from the resort to Stoke!

Southport’s 160-year-old Grade II listed Pier could be set for the significant upgrade in the coming months if up to £3 million for new decking is approved.

Since its construction in 1860, Southport Pier has been the focal point of the town’s seaside heritage. It has been visited by Charlie Chaplin, stopped at by steamers and was used as a base for searchlights during the Second World War.

And over those 160-plus years exposed to corrosive rain, wind and salt spray, Southport’s pier has, like all traditional seaside piers, required numerous repair and refurbishment.

Such is the scale of the planned works, more than 56 miles of decking boards will be used in the refurbishment, which is the same distance as the crow flies from Southport to Stoke.

Repairs to the Pier date back to as early as 1890 and during its long history it has fallen victim to incredibly powerful storm damage, boat crashes and numerous fires in the 19th and 20th century. In 2018, extensive repairs and repainting works were carried out by Sefton Council to the Pier’s steelwork to combat corrosion from the sea