Cromer Pier £250,000 repairs to start in January

Repairs costing £250,000 have been approved for one of Norfolk's most popular tourist attractions after councillors were warned parts of its structure were deteriorating.

A structural survey found essential work was required on the Grade II-listed Cromer Pier - just three years after the Liberal Democrat-led North Norfolk District Council spent £1.1m on the pier following storm damage.

The pier is one of Norfolk's most recognisable landmarks and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Deputy council leader Lucy Shires, the portfolio holder for finance, estates and property, said the pier was safe and work would take place in January and February to cause "minimal disruption".

Detailed analysis carried out by engineers earlier this year found defects within the deck beams, trusses, bracing and columns, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

At Wednesday's cabinet meeting, Conservative councillor Tom FitzPatrick said the pier was exposed to "inhospitable conditions" and appeared to require repair work every few years.

"Perhaps the time has come for a top-to-bottom survey that looks at how we care for the structure and puts a proper programme of maintenance in place," he said.

"It's 125 years old next year, so let's make it fit for the future."

Council leader Tim Adams assured him the recent analysis was a "full structural survey" and not "by some bloke we know from down the road that's having a look from the foreshore".

As well as a £1.1m package in 2022, the structure had repairs carried out on its legs, metal framework and decking in 2012 as part of a £8m spend that included work on Cromer's Victorian sea defences.

A year later, it was battered by a powerful storm surge and needed repairs costing £200,000.

It received £45,000 in 2023 for work to modernise the Pavilion Theatre's bar.

The latest £250,000 investment will be funded through council borrowing and repaid over time as part of the authority's medium-term financial strategy.

Other less urgent repair works identified in the survey are expected to be brought forward as part of next year's capital budget.

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