Pier reopens after storm damage but repairs needed

A pier which is home to a historic lighthouse, previously closed after a power cable was torn out by Storm Boelo, has reopened.

Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners closed its west pier last month after a several-tonne cable running along the harbour wall was ripped out and left dangling across the pier and in the sea itself.

However, the cable was recovered earlier this week and the site is now open to the public again, although the lighthouse remains nonfunctional.

CEO Deanne Shallcross said the authority hoped it would be reconnected to its power supply by early next week, but this was being viewed as a short-term solution because the cable was damaged and needed replacing.

People had been urged to keep away from the pier because nights were getting darker and the exposed cable presented "a very real hazard".

The authority said the pier would have to close again during work to replace the cable.

Shallcross said the cable alone could cost £7,000, but more money would need to be spent on building supplies and contractors, as well as wider repairs caused by the storm, totalling an estimate of about £20-25,000.

The 1839 lighthouse was restored three years ago along with its twin north pier structure, at a cost of more than £140,000.

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