Thousands of pounds worth of repairs are to be carried out to Burnham-On-Sea’s crumbling jetty to stop its condition further deteriorating.
Sedgemoor District Council is drawing up plans to start a restoration project this September – with the overhaul expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
It comes after Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively reported last month that the landmark had been further damaged by recent ice and winter storms, as pictured here.
“We have limited resources and therefore our ambitions are proportionately modest. Whilst we are aware of various ideas for the future of the jetty, there is a need to undertake remedial works to prevent further deterioration. We do not wish to delay repairs further,” Julian Street, the council’s Group Manager for Support Services, told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
It’s understood that the funding set aside for the work by the authority may only be available until the end of 2009, so if no work is undertaken the funds may be withdrawn.
The work is expected to include repairs to the flank walls of the jetty, including re-pointing and stone repairs, resetting of coping stones, resurfacing tarmac areas, removing the barriers currently in place to stop vehicular access and reviewing handrails.
The council is appointing a project manager this month and will then start work on drawing up a specification for the works and issue tenders in the late Spring and early Summer.
The contractors will be appointed by the start of August and the work will then start on-site in mid-September for the end of the tourist season, with completion expected in mid-November.
“It is hoped that this work will maintain the jetty in a reasonable condition for a five year period; however, this will be entirely dependent of prevailing wind and weather,” added Mr Street.
Our photos show (top) the jetty at the height of the summer; and (above and below) the jetty’s crumbling tarmac surface
