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85-year-old wooden pier reopens after repairs

BCP Council Timber pier running from shingle beach out to water it has A "T-shaped" end.BCP Council
The pier was used as a fuelling station for the harbour's flying boats in World War Two

A timber pier in an inner harbour which has been closed for 18 months after suffering years of extreme weather damage has reopened.

Built in 1939, Hamworthy's Lake Pier in Dorset was originally used as a fuel bunker for boats and a refuelling station for flying boats during World War Two.

The 85-year-old structure has been strengthened with steel and new side beams along with rocks added along the harbour edge to give protection from coastal erosion.

BCP Council said the £330,000 work was paid for through the community infrastructure levy - a planning charge paid by developers which is then reinvested in the local area.

BCP Council Wooden pier with planks across its width and wooden railing stretching down the passageway leading to a beach with sand and large rocks on its slope and a car park beyond.BCP Council
The repairs hope to extend the life of the pier beyond its 100th year, the council said

Councillor Richard Herrett, portfolio holder for destination, leisure and commercial operations, said: "This crucial work has helped secure the future of Lake Pier as we head towards its 100th anniversary."

The council said the need to strengthen the pier to prolong its life was found during a safety inspection in the summer of 2023.

Due to the environmentally sensitive position of the pier alongside a nature reserve, work could only take place during certain weeks in the autumn and winter.

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