Rotten timber has pushed up the cost of redecking work on Southend pier by £250,000.
The work is intended to restore an area of the pierhead which has not been repaired since a large area was destroyed by fire in 1976.
Going up - pier costs are rising Picture: MAXINE CLARKE
The news of the overspend comes as work continues at the shore end of the pier to build a new entrance bridge across the road.
A report to the cabinet by technical services director David Watts said the original cost of the decking contract was £2,514,000. This figure was based on the best available survey information at the time.
He added: "This included sampling by divers of what was considered the most exposed piles, lying on the south face of the pier.
"The occurrence of abnormally low spring tides in November confirmed the good condition of these elements.
"However, they also exposed to view some extremely deteriorated timber in the piles and deck supports of the eastern side of the site which need either to be removed and abandoned - thus reducing the size of the pier deck and the berthing space available for use - or replaced."
Published Friday, February 7, 2003
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