Council aims to repair sea damage to city pier

REPAIR and stabilisation work at the popular West Hoe pier in Plymouth means it will be closed for the next six weeks and again next spring, as part of Plymouth City Council's plan to secure its waterfront assets.

- By ALISON STEPHENSON Local Democracy Reporter

Cllr Chris Penberthy (Labour, St Peter and the Waterfront) told a council cabinet meeting that the sale of historic buildings like Pounds House mansion in Central Park and the 16th century Merchant's House, which are both listed but have become liabilities for the authority, would ensure that it could invest in historic structures like West Hoe pier in the future.

The pier is where Sir Francis Chichester landed in 1967, becoming the first person to sail single handedly around the world. Built in the 1880s, the Grade II listed structure has been subject to many repairs over the years because of pressure from the sea. The council fenced off an arm of the pier as a safety measure earlier this summer, ahead of stabilisation work.