Work will begin shortly to repair storm damaged steps on the Hoe Foreshore as part of the council’s commitment to the waterfront, one of the city’s most loved locations.
An urgent decision has authorised work to repair the semi-circular steps to the east of Tinside as well as a section of granite to the west on a seawall next to the steps. The area is used daily by wild swimmers to get into the sea but big chunks of concrete have been washed away and a void has formed beneath the steps.
Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet member for finance said:
“We know how important the waterfront is to all our residents – the swimmers, kayakers, paddle-boarders as well as people who just want to pop up for an ice cream and take in the views.
“It’s been massively important to people over the last year, playing a huge part in stressbusting and keeping people healthy.
“We are constantly investing in the waterfront and as a city with National Marine Park status will continue to – there’s a lot more to come!”
A sum of £612,000 is going into the council’s capital programme to enable a more substantial repair to take place. It will include drilling in stainless steel tie anchors and having the void filled in. Sections of the steps have failed and the plan is to remove the failed steps and build a concrete support wall behind it in stages. Marine grade concrete for the repair will need to be pumped from the road above.
Councillor Lowry added:
“Like any repairs that take place by the sea, it is not a simple job. We have to take into account time, tide, weather and not to mention the fact that much of the kit to do the job will need to sit on a barge to enable the work to take place.”
The work is the latest in a long list of projects designed to make the most of the waterfront and keep up the battle against time tide and salty sea air. Over the last few years the following locations have had some serious repair work:
The Mayflower Steps and portico have been sensitively restored as well as the West Pier, with cobbles re-layed and new seating added – £370,000
Phoenix Wharf – the historic pier was completely refurbished and the former Mayflower sailing club transformed into a swish waterfront eatery – £658,000
West Hoe cliffs have been stabilised – £284,000
New toilets haveopened at West Hoe – £450,000 and work on the new loos on the Hoe promenade is just about to start
Mount Wise sea wall repaired – £120,000
Tinside Pool repairs after winter storm damage – £52,000
Foreshore repairs – £1.118m
Mount Batten pontoon £437,000
Road and footpath near Jennicliff £287,000
