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Local Whitehaven · West Cumbria

West Pier's shut till further notice, Boelo's ripped the power cable clean off it Whitehaven's West Pier closed until further notice after Storm Boelo rips out its power cable

By Kris WM, editor 3 min read From cumbriacrack.com
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Whitehaven's West Pier closed until further notice after Storm Boelo rips out its power cable
Photo: Rude Health via Geograph / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (West Pier, Whitehaven, 2012)

Boelo's pulled the power cable off West Pier and dumped it in the harbour, so the pier's shut. The Harbour Commissioners say it'll be a while, and they're asking parents to keep kids off it this half-term.

This one's for anybody who likes a walk or a fish off West Pier in Whitehaven, and for mams and dads with bairns off school for half-term.

Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners say Boelo ripped the power cable right out along West Pier over the weekend. They've switched the power off while it's made safe, and the pier's shut to everybody until further notice.

It's staying shut while they fish the cable back out of the water and put it back where it should be. They've said straight out that it won't be a quick job, and it'll only open again once it's safe.

They said: "Please do not attempt to access West Pier under any circumstances. The closure is in place for your own safety."

And with the kids off school, they added: "With half-term underway, we know that children and young people may be tempted to visit the pier to fish. Please speak to your children about the dangers and make sure they understand that the pier is strictly out of bounds."

It's been a rough few days on the coast. The Environment Agency had coastal flood warnings up on Monday night from Allonby down to Whitehaven, with North Beach and the town centre among the spots most at risk. They told folk to stay away from seafronts and harbours because waves were coming over and the spray was full of debris.

Fun fact: the Harbour Commissioners say they started building the West Pier, its lighthouse and the North Pier in 1832, and the two piers took 25 years to finish.

What you can do: keep off West Pier and stay back from the barriers. Have a quiet word with any young anglers in the family. Keep an eye on the Harbour Commissioners' own updates for when it opens again.

Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners have closed West Pier to the public after Storm Boelo tore out the power cable that runs along it. The pier will stay shut while the cable is recovered from the water, and the commissioners say that will not be quick.

This is for anyone who walks, fishes or takes children out on Whitehaven's West Pier, and especially for parents during the half-term holiday.

Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners say Storm Boelo ripped out the power cable that runs along West Pier over the weekend. The electricity supply has been isolated while the area is made safe, and the pier is closed to the public until further notice.

The pier will stay shut while the cable is recovered from the water and put back in its proper position. The commissioners have warned that this will not be a quick job, and the structure will only reopen once it is safe.

In a statement shared with local media, they said: "Please do not attempt to access West Pier under any circumstances. The closure is in place for your own safety."

With schools off for half-term, they added: "With half-term underway, we know that children and young people may be tempted to visit the pier to fish. Please speak to your children about the dangers and make sure they understand that the pier is strictly out of bounds."

The closure comes after a weekend of high tides and big waves along the coast. The Environment Agency had coastal flood warnings in place on Monday night for the stretch between Allonby and Whitehaven, naming Whitehaven North Beach and the town centre among the places most at risk, and advised people to avoid seafronts and harbours because of waves overtopping and spray carrying debris.

Fun fact: according to the Harbour Commissioners, work on the West Pier, its lighthouse and the North Pier began in 1832, and the two piers took 25 years to build.

What you can do: stay off West Pier and keep well back from barriers. Have a word with any young anglers in the family. Check the Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners' own channels for news of when it reopens.