Comparing Southport Pier’s Woes with Llandudno and Central Pier Blackpool

At Christmas many a resident used to walk off those extra Yuletide calories with a brisk walk along Southport Pier.

This year it will not be possible but what exactly are the chances of it happening next year or the year after ?

According to the Lib Dem Opposition Leader on Sefton Council ,Cllr. John Pugh the position of Sefton is “we dont know” - a position he describes as 'hopeless and depressing vagueness."

  In a recently released video comparing Southport with Llandudno Pier and Central Pier Blackpool he points out that the problems of Southport Pier are in no way unique. https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/893355127 

What is different, he claims, is the Council’s aversion to any conceivable risk.

"None of the three piers is in imminent danger of collapse or a danger to life and all are insurable despite their defects. What has weakened Sefton's case is the fact that the condition of Southport Pier seems to have come as a surprise to them and they did not have a clear laid out maintenance policy for inspection and replacement of defective materials. This has left them without a defence if someone trips.”  

Sefton does have such a policy and inspection regime for highways which is why those of us who get our cars damaged by potholes won’t be getting compensation and why hazardous roads don’t get shut all over the borough.

Llandudno further protects itself by sensible cautionary notices warning about conditions and appropriate footwear.”

Cllr Pugh added, “ It is hard for the public to understand why Southport Pier which carries far less weight and fewer people than Blackpool Central Pier requires total and indefinite closure along its entire length before its faults can be addressed or the public re-admitted. It does though seem to be a way for the Council to shelve the issue til someone else offers to pay for needed repairs.