The long-awaited re-opening of Strand Quay in Rye continues to be delayed after structural issues were found in the harbour wall. Work was due to be finished in March this year, however repairs and installation of the floating pontoon are now not set to be completed until this autumn.
The cause of the damage to the harbour piling, which is in addition to the poor conditions which led to the original planned work, has not been officially confirmed. The quayside remains closed.
Work to modernise the quayside has been taking place since 2022, with the Environment Agency explaining only minor repairs had taken place since it was built between 1936 and 1939. Wooden ladders and fenders were described as being in “poor repair” and “as a result the structures of the quay all need to be repaired or replaced.”
The current work is the second phase of the Strand Quay repairs and includes the installation of the floating pontoon and access ramp. Work is also being undertaken to repair deteriorating concrete. It was during this work that further damage was found to the harbour wall leading to the current delays.
The damage to the piling was discussed at the Harbour of Rye Advisory Committee meeting in June, with speculation the ties holding the piling and harbour walls in place may have been weakened by heavy traffic and machinery on the nearby A259 or the quayside itself. The ties have also have not been replaced since they were installed around1939.
In a statement to Rye News, the Environment Agency confirmed structural issues have been found. “We have been carrying out improvement works to Strand Quay in Rye. This involved repairing the slipway which was in poor condition and replacing the fenders and ladders on one side of the quay. We also added a new floating pontoon to the other side which will greatly improve access for visiting craft. During the works some structural issues with the quay wall were discovered. For efficiency, while the contractors are mobilised on site, we have asked them to repair the section of the damaged wall. This work has unfortunately delayed the opening of the new pontoon and the quayside area needs to remain closed in the interests of public safety.”
The Agency was unable to give a confirmed date for the work to finish, including the repairs to the recently discovered structural issues. In the statement it said: “The work at Strand Quay is expected to be completed by autumn this year.”
Image Credits: Rye News .