Joy of pier 'having chips stolen by seagulls'

Grade II listed building consent has been granted to repair a pier damaged in Storm Babet.

Roker Pier, in Sunderland, has been closed for repairs since October 2023 after being battered by high winds and rain.

Sunderland City Council said repair work would start in mid-April, to avoid disturbing nesting birds.

Councillor Martyn Herron said he was really pleased "future generations" would not miss out on "having chips stolen on the pier by a seagull".

The work will include replacing corroded and missing steel components, repairing concrete and fixing the decking, railing and support structures, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

As the pier is a listed building, consent was needed for the works and plans were discussed by the planning and highways committee on Monday.

The meeting heard that the work proposals represented a "well-informed yet practical conservation approach that will sustain the overall heritage significance of the pier" and make it more robust in future storms.

The application won unanimous support from city councillors.

Councillor Dianne Snowdon said: "I welcome this report and I just hope that we can go ahead and get the work done as soon as possible so that people can access the pier safely again."

Councillor Martyn Herron added: "Residents of Sunderland and visitors have missed it being open.

"I hope to see it open again as soon as possible because part of the joy of the seaside is having your chips stolen on the pier by a seagull.

"Who are we to deny that chance to future generations."

The pier was originally built between 1885 and 1903 and remains an "important historical and architectural asset", as well as being used by "pedestrians and tourists for recreational walks, fishing, and sightseeing", the plans said.

Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].