No fixed date when safety-risk pier can reopen

Volunteers who help maintain Rochester Pier say they have been told the structure will not be safe to reopen until at least January.

The pier opened to the public in September after a five-year closure but had to be shut again in April when Medway Council discovered structural issues.

The Friends of Rochester Churchfields and Esplanade (Force), which helps maintain the structure, said the council informed the group the site would likely remain closed throughout 2025.

A Medway Council spokesperson said: "Although we appreciate the pier being closed is disappointing, safety always needs to be our priority."

The local authority said it was "looking into funding options" for a survey of the structure to assess "if any repairs need to be undertaken".

The cost of repairs and a potential reopening date would depend on the inspection's findings, according to the council.

A Force spokesperson said work on the structure would "help towards our goal of preserving the pier in the long term", and the group agreed that "public safety is the first priority".

The group added it would "continue to work closely with the council to stay informed and to advocate for a safe reopening of the pier as soon as possible".

Force had been helping refurbish the pier from its 2024 reopening and said it planned to expand use of the pier in future to generate funds for its maintenance.

Rochester Pier was originally built in the 1880s and was used as a river access point for small boats and passenger tours.

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