UK seaside city hit by warning as harbour ‘crumbles into the sea’

A section of Plymouth’s West Hoe Pier has been closed to the public due to safety reasons with signs that the structure is “crumbling into the sea”.

The warning came from a local businessman sent in pictures to PlymouthLive which revealed holes in the walls, blocks on the verge of falling out and missing steps along the harbour.

Now, Plymouth City Council is currently in the process of reviewing the Grade II listed structure and ordered a survey. 

The off-limits section is located just off Grande Parade and dates back to 1880. The structure is made up of very strong limestone. However, the pictures sent in by Neal Stoneman showed it weakening. 

Neal Stoneman said: “This will be the next thing to crumble into the sea if they don’t carry out some urgent repairs to the main structure.”

A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said: “We have commissioned a survey of the pier and are now reviewing the findings and recommendations. In the meantime, the steps from the pier to the sea have been closed as a precaution to ensure public safety.”

Twelve years ago, Plymouth construction firm Ryearch was contracted to carry out work at West Hoe Pier, costing the council £97,000.

The works completed included repairing broken steps and landings whilst using material retrieved from the bottom of the sea.

The pier is not the only waterfront structure that needs a renovation as it has been reported that a slipway at Mount Edgecumbe is also going through an eigh-week project of repair work.

The project includes removing and replacing the loose stone, strengthening the support of the concrete slab and filling any gaps.

The Cremyll Ferry, which uses the slipway to link Mount Edgecumbe in Cornwall and Plymouth, has been landing at the beach near the slipway whilst services have become inconstant.