PIER PRESSURE- STICK WITH IT !

The report has arrived from the structural engineers, the bill has been presented and the commitment to repair made, BUT the public still has no clear idea of how, when or if the Pier will be repaired by Sefton Council. What is certain is that the Council does not believe it can find the money currently to complete the repairs and open the Pier to the public.

“The current situation with the absence of a timetable or a coherent plan is unsustainable,” says Lib Dem Opposition leader on Sefton, Cllr John Pugh, “Everybody knows that. Although the council has earmarked some capital resources for the next financial year, no-one pretends that its enough to meet a probable cost of £12M."

However, previous consultants have suggested that much of the work can be done as part of a rolling programme , allowing public access to some parts of the Pier. Establishing and funding such a programme would be an important step forward, but currently we are in limbo. The worst case scenario is that the Pier sits there unused and unloved like the old Marine Parade bridge while the Council waits for manna from heaven. We can’t let this string out.

To keep pressure on the Council Cllr Pugh is circulating free stickers demanding “Pier Progress Now”. They can be obtained by e-mailing [email protected] and providing an address. The idea is to make sure that the Pier stays firmly in the Council in-tray.

“I could be wrong,” he says, “ but if Sefton officers and councillors see such stickers on cars,doors and windows around town they’ll recognise that this is a priority for local people. People want to do something tangible to get action moving and ensure the Pier is not forgotten.This is just one way they can do so."