Whitehaven West Pier is open again, but the lighthouse is still out Whitehaven West Pier reopens after storm damage, but the lighthouse is still dark
Marra Mode is how your mate would tell you down the pub over a pint. Switch it off for the straight version.
You can walk the West Pier again after the Storm Boelo cable was recovered, but the lighthouse isn't lit yet and the pier will shut again when the cable's replaced.
If you like a wander down the West Pier at Whitehaven, good news: you can again. There's one catch.
The Harbour Commissioners shut it last month after Storm Boelo ripped out a power cable. BBC News says the several-tonne cable ran along the harbour wall and ended up hanging across the pier and in the sea. It was got out earlier this week and the pier's open to everyone again. The lighthouse, though, still isn't working.
Chief executive Deanne Shallcross said they're hoping to have the lighthouse reconnected to its power supply by early next week. She said that's only a short-term fix because the cable's damaged and needs replacing, and the pier will have to close again while that's done.
People had been told to stay away because the nights are drawing in and the cable was "a very real hazard".
The money isn't small. Ms Shallcross said the cable alone could cost £7,000, with more for materials and contractors, and the wider storm repairs bringing it to roughly £20,000 to £25,000.
The 1839 lighthouse was done up three years ago, along with the matching north pier, at a cost of over £140,000, so it's worth looking after.
Our earlier stories on the closure and the cable recovery fill in the background. If you're planning a stroll, check the Harbour Commissioners' updates first, because it'll be shut again for the repair and there's no date yet.
Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners have reopened the west pier now the storm-damaged cable has been recovered. The lighthouse isn't working yet, and the pier will close again when the cable is replaced.
This is for anyone who walks the harbour at Whitehaven, and for people who use the pier to watch the sunset or take photographs.
The Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners have reopened the west pier, which was closed last month after Storm Boelo tore out a power cable. BBC News reports that the several-tonne cable ran along the harbour wall and was left dangling across the pier and in the sea. It was recovered earlier this week and the pier is open to the public again, but the lighthouse is still not working.
Chief executive Deanne Shallcross said the authority hoped to have the lighthouse reconnected to its power supply by early next week. She described that as a short-term solution, because the cable was damaged and needs replacing. The authority said the pier would have to close again while that work is done.
People had been urged to keep away while the cable was exposed because nights were getting darker and it presented "a very real hazard".
Ms Shallcross said the cable alone could cost £7,000, with more needed for building supplies and contractors, and wider repairs after the storm bringing the estimated total to about £20,000 to £25,000.
The 1839 lighthouse was restored three years ago, together with the twin north pier structure, at a cost of more than £140,000.
Our earlier Marra News stories on the closure and the cable recovery have the background. If you're planning a walk, check the Harbour Commissioners' updates first, as the pier will close again for the repair and no date has been given.