VIDEO: £50K appeal launched after storm leaves part of Swanage Pier closed (From Thisisdorset)

VIDEO: £50K appeal launched after storm leaves part of Swanage Pier closed

4:30pm Monday 18th March 2013 in Latest

PART of Swanage Pier has closed for safety reasons after suffering serious damage during high tides and gale force winds.

The damage, which almost caused the pier's walkway to collapse, has forced Swanage Pier Trust to launch an urgent appeal to help with the estimated £50,000 repair bill.

Pier manager Ben Adeney told the Daily Echo raging seas tore through the Grade II listed structure sweeping one of the structural piles out to sea.

“It takes quite a storm to do something like this,” he said. “After the pile was torn off there was a real fear the mid-section walkway was in imminent danger of collapse.”

Shortly after last Monday's storm, which caused the damage, volunteers sprang to the Victorian pier's aid. They were able to brace the affected area on the walkway in a bid to avert further damage.

Contractors Gordon Parr, who were preparing to work on another section of the pier, and Jenkins Marine assisted.

Mr Adeney explained: “By chance, thanks to a grant from the De Moulham Trust, we were able to start work on the south landing stage.

“About two days before the work was about to start this storm came in. The contractors turned up and were able to remove the damaged section, otherwise the entire mid-section could have potentially collapsed.”

The Victorian structure, voted Pier of the Year in 2012, has been made safe, but remains closed to the public until the affected area can be restored.

Swanage Pier Trust chairman Derek Tarrant said: “This damage could not have come at a worse time when we have committed all our available funds, including a generous donation from the De Moulham Trust, to the restoration of the south landing stage.”

To donate to the appeal email generalmanager@swanagepiertrust.com or call 01929 425 866.