Cost of repairing Sunderland riverside footpath after collapse could reach £1.5million, councillors to be told

A Sunderland City Council Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, June 15, will hear an update on the section of Panns Quay East that slipped into the River Wear earlier this year.

Contractors and council engineers had already begun investigating cracking in the quayside footpath and noted further movement before the 60m – nearly 200ft - section fell into the river on the night of Tuesday, March 16.

Sections of the piling had become weakened and failed as a result of water seeping into the foundations.

A budget of £200,000 was already allocated for preliminary works and a structural survey. The cost of a full rebuild is now put at £1.5million.

Deputy Council Leader Coun Claire Rowntree is due to present an update on the rebuilding work to the meeting, with a recommendation to agree the next stage of works.

"Our city's infrastructure, whether it's our bridges, highways or, in this instance, our quayside, are of course all hugely important,” she said."I'm pleased to report that we can now, after further surveys and costings, look to progressing the rebuild here at the quayside."The area had been fenced off to prevent public access before the collapse.

Initial repair and salvage works are already under way to remove debris from the river and prepare the area for the rebuild and if councillors approve the plans work could begin next month.After holding remote meetings during the pandemic, the Cabinet is due to meet in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre from 10am on Tuesday.

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