Pier firm 'on with repairs' over broken crossbeam

The owners of Blackpool's Central Pier said "ongoing repairs are under control" after a visitor flagged up concerns about a snapped rusty crossbeam.

Darren Noakes said he was passing underneath the pier when he spotted the damage and reported it to Blackpool Council.

The local authority contacted the Blackpool Pier Company (BPC), which said contractors had "noted the item". The firm added that piers were "built and engineered to absorb a certain amount of loss and damage".

A woman in her 50s suffered serious injuries - including spinal injuries and a broken elbow -after she fell about 30ft (9m) through a section of Central Pier in August 2024.

An investigation followed and Blackpool Council made a number of recommendations to BPC.

New measures were put in place after the incident but no legal action was taken.

Noakes told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I was a visitor to Blackpool and was walking under the Central Pier when I noticed a crossbeam totally rusted through and snapped.

"I'm sure this is not meant to be like this, and looking all around that area, it all looks like it's about to snap.

"I emailed Blackpool Council to report it but so far nothing back from them. I sent a photo, too."

The authority said it worked "closely with the piers".

"We know that they have an ongoing programme of works and have independent structural engineers," a spokesman said.

A BPC spokesman said: "Replacing steelwork under the piers is an ongoing requirement and part of our responsibilities.

"Our contractors have recently been on site at both South and Central Piers to rectify damage that has been caused over the recent storms and high tides, however, this item was noted on their recent visit.

"The piers are built and engineered to absorb a certain amount of loss and damage."

A large fire damaged parts of Central Pier in 2020.

It completely destroyed a fairground ride and damaged an engineering shed about halfway along the seaside attraction.

Central Pier opened in 1868. Its 33m-high (108ft) Ferris wheel known as the Big Wheel was installed in 1990.

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