An £80,000 project to repair Burnham-On-Sea’s ailing jetty began on Monday (September 7th).
As first reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com earlier this year, the council is embarking on a scheme to restore the crumbling structure to its former glory.
The work started on Monday, as pictured here, and the district council’s contractors, Boley and Skuse, will be replacing a large section of missing road surface, resetting coping stones and repairing the flank walls over coming weeks.
The start of the project was welcomed by Cllr Neville Jones, who has long campaigned for the structure. “It’s a great day that this work is finally starting,” he told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Monday evening.
“The Jetty works will be notified in detail to the Health and Safety Executive and the Jetty and its immediate environs will be designated as a construction site, and as such every effort will be made to ensure public safety,” council spokeswoman Sam Elliott told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
“There will be significant restrictions placed on jetty access during the works. There will be no public launching between Monday and Friday, however the upper portion of the jetty will be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays.”
“The flood gates will be used to secure the top of the jetty during the working week and there will be strict controls placed on vehicular movements with the exception of the emergency services, such as the RNLI, BARB and Coastguards.”
She added that there will be a contractor’s compound area formed immediately to the left of the jetty entrance for storage of plant and materials and warning signs will be installed. A CCTV camera will be installed in the lifeguard station to record all activity during the construction period.
The works are due to be finished, weather permitting, by the end of October before the Burnham Carnival and fireworks.
Pictured are (top) workmen at the top of the jetty on Monday; (beneath) digger driver Bill Doyle taking the first scoop out of the jetty [Pic: Maurice Hunt]; and (above) the poor condition of the jetty’s tarmac and walls
