A BUSINESS has stopped operations from a building as a precaution after part of a quay in Colchester collapsed into the river.

A section of the concrete footpath which links Hythe to Rowhedge at Fieldgate Quay has given way, with the attached metal piling moving further into the River Colne.

CTruk Marine Services, which is based adjacent to the footpath off Haven Road, has made the decision to not use the building as a precaution.

The structural integrity of the premises is being assessed by engineers as part of the ongoing monitoring of the area.

The business is continuing to operate as normal from the rest of the site.

Colchester Council, which owns the stretch of quay, says it is working with the business to ensure its operations are safe.

The authority has appointed Breheny Civil Engineering to investigate and conduct repairs in the area.

Simon Crow, councillor responsible for environment and sustainability, said: “Due to the nature of the full repairs needed, this additional movement of the piling and pathway has not come as a surprise.

“The damaged area is likely to continue to move until the repair works can start in the autumn.

“I would like to reassure residents and business we continue to monitor the damage closely to ensure the continued security and safety of the site.

“We are working closely with the Brightlingsea Harbour Master, who visited the site this week, and confirmed the metal piling protruding into the river does not pose a risk to navigation.”

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The Hythe to Rowhedge footpath, popular with tourists and dogwalkers, has been closed since the damage was first identified in November last year.

The condition of the quay has been gradually deteriorating since the damage was identified.

Colchester Council said the further movement had been caused by spring tides in the River Colne, which led to the metal piling detaching further from the riverside wall.

The material behind the footpath has not washed out, as this was cleared as part of survey work, and the council says it has not contributed to the additional movement which has been identified.

Mr Crow added: “We are continuing to work with CTruk Marine Services to ensure they can continue to operate their business safely adjacent to the site.”

Repairs to the quay are set to start in the coming months, however, no set timeframe for the works has yet been set out.