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Workers moved onto the site this week (from Monday 14 July) to start developing the landside buildings, following the first phase of work being completed at the end of last year.
For this stage of the project, the car park next to the pier, in Weston-super-Mare, will need to close temporarily. This is planned from Tuesday 29 July.
We were disappointed by the RNLI’s recent decision to withdraw from the wider pier restoration project but continue to work to find solutions in partnership with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Historic England.
Our appointed contractor for the landside phase of work is Bristol-based Smith and Brenson.
Their work includes:
- restoring landside buildings, including the Pier Master’s Cottage
- creating visitor facilities, including toilets and bicycle racks
- providing essential services and infrastructure to the site, including work underground on a new water supply, a new sewer and sewage pumps, and to install a new fit-for-purpose electricity substation
- removing asbestos and repairing the sea wall
- replacing broken railings and streetlights along Birkett Road.
This is being funded from an allocation of £4.47m from the £20m awarded to us by the UK government, through the former Levelling Up Fund.
The pay and display car park, located where Birnbeck Road meets Birkett Road, has 75 car spaces. These spaces are expected to be unavailable until the project is complete, which is currently anticipated to be during 2028.
We appreciate your patience while the car park is temporarily closed. It’s a challenging and physically restricted site, and contractors will need the space to work safely.
We’re keen to minimise disruption to everyone, particularly local residents and businesses.
Where possible, visitors are asked to use sustainable and active transport options, to reduce pressure on town centre roads and parking.
Travelling by bus and rail
Bus stops serving route number 1, for Prince Consort Gardens, are on both sides of the road at the entrance to the car park.
Regular services run between Weston-super-Mare railway station and Sand Bay bus terminus every day.
Find information and timetables on the Travelwest website.
Alternative parking
Limited on-street parking is available in Birkett Road. The nearest alternative car park is on Madeira Road, accessed from South Road.
This pay and display car park has 70 spaces including three disabled bays, and is less than five minutes’ walk to Birnbeck through Prince Consort Gardens.
Road signs will be installed to direct visitors here.
Electric vehicle (EV) charging points are available at Melrose car park on the seafront and Worle railway station car park.
Find more parking information on our website.
Updated signs to find your way around Weston
Find your way around Weston-super-Mare town centre, along the seafront and discover places of interest thanks to our new signs.
We want to encourage locals and visitors alike to explore the many fantastic things our town has to offer so our current blue fingerpost signs are being improved.
Weston boasts a naturally wide bay with a town that is spread out, so efficient wayfinding is crucial.
Our appointed contractor Crestmoor is:
- replacing the current blue fingerpost signs as they are at the end of their life
- installing a new ‘breadcrumb’ trail in the pavement to highlight landmarks and places at key locations
- highlighting the route at Spider Lane (between the Royal Hotel and The Winter Gardens) for access between the seafront and High Street
- installing three new bicycle racks in the south east corner of the Italian Gardens, opposite NatWest Bank.
Additional signs containing maps designed by Weston-based artist Nick Roberts are being installed on bus stops around the town.
An audio trail is also being produced to assist those without sight to navigate around our town.
We’ve collaborated with North Somerset Disabled Access Group, Vision North Somerset and the Sight Loss Council to create this.
It should be published later this year so will share more information then.
This wayfinding project is part of our ambitious placemaking vision for the town, made possible thanks to our successful bid for £20m from the UK government.
Silica transformed into information hub
The striking 30-metre Silica structure in Weston-super-Mare’s town centre has been given a new lease of life as a digital information hub.
We worked with Weston-super-Mare Town Council on the £40,000 capital-funded upgrade of the disused bus shelter, on the corner of the High Street and Regent Street.
It was thoroughly cleaned and information display screens installed.
The ground floor is now leased to the town council for its Visit Weston service, providing people with the latest information about what’s happening around the town, including events, community projects and local businesses.
We will continue to operate and maintain the upper level and multi-coloured lighting, which was installed in 2022.
Weston-based artist Nick Roberts, whose distinctive style captures the town’s vibrant and creative energy, created the attractive designs and maps.
Local organisations are encouraged to submit their listings free of charge, whether for live music, art exhibitions, workshops or wellbeing sessions. Email submissions to WSMcomms@wsm-tc.gov.uk