Decks decaying Rotting landing stage 'needs replacing urgently'

THE Cascade Steps ferry landing stage at the top of Bristol Floating Harbour is rotting and needs replacing urgently.

- Adam POSTANS Local Democracy Reporter

The Cascade Steps ferry landing stage; Left, Cllr Sibusiso Tshabalala

And it has emerged that a member of the public fell partway through the wooden structure back in 2022, but only now has the city council allocated funds to rebuild it.

Bristol Harbour Festival could be jeopardised and people's safety put at risk if the work does not go ahead, councillors were told at the annual budget meeting this month.

The desperate state of the platform came to light after the opposition Labour group tabled a budget amendment to divert all £900,000 from the project to refurbish the Downs changing rooms.

But Cllr Sibusiso Tshabalala said: "This amendment is presented as a saving. It is not.

"I have the engineering evidence before me.

"The WSP structural report is clear - the timber superstructure of the Cascade Steps has 'reached the end of its service life'.

"The report identifies wood rot, fracturing of supporting joists, and failed connections, with screws losing grip because the timber beneath them is decaying.

"In 2022, a member of the public fell partway through the decking.

"Since then, the decks have continued to decay.

"The project now requires £900,000 in capital works, and it can't be delayed.