A refurbishment project of Chatham's iconic waterfront pier has been completed following weeks of extensive work by contractors. The refurbishment of Sun Pier was externally funded through the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) and the Local Growth Fund (LGF) - a funding stream that is specifically for infrastructure and public realm. The Sun Pier project has a budget of circa £160,000 and included the partial replacement of the decking where needed, stripping and repainting the surface metalwork, replacement of the wooden handrail, new benches and a new lighting scheme to match the works on Pier Chambers and the wider river walk. Picture Credit: Jetstream Tours The Pier and the new pontoon are a key part of attracting positive use and interaction with the river, creating a safer and more engaging destination. The river walk improvements carried out by the Council in the last year that included resurfacing, new guardrail and a lighting scheme to a high quality specification have already changed how the area is used and significantly reduced the number of drinkers and anti-social behaviour. Improvements to the Northern footpath on Medway Street running along Staples also took place last year, including new high-quality paving and the reconfiguration of the kerbline, and the removal of the redundant parking bays of the demolished shops.
Chatham Regeneration Manager, Sunny Ee, commented: "The refurbishment of the Pier combined with the gateway feature on the junction of Pier Chambers and Medway Street will draw down residents and visitors to one of Chatham town centre’s greatest assets; the River Medway." The improvements over the past year also aim to provide a clearer and more direct link between the riverside and the core town centre shopping area, as well as enhancing the pedestrian experience for residents and visitors. Comments are closed.
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August 2023
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