PIER SQUARE WORK MOVING FORWARD

A multi-million pound project in Weston-super-Mare is set to take a major step forward next month.

The bulk of the work to lay tarmac, finish carriageway and drainage works for the whole of Pier Square is to be completed during September.

Pier Square is the area of Weston-super-Mare seafront which includes the two lawns and surrounding roads between Carlton Street and the Grand Pier.

North Somerset Council's executive member for strategic planning, Elfan Ap Rees, said that good progress was being made in bringing the £3.9million project to fruition.

"Large areas of the square are now paved and being used by the public, with around 100m2 of paving being laid per day.

"Walls around the square are being put up and the northern section is completed, apart from some lighting work, and fully open to the public together with the pedestrian crossing to the pier.

"Foundations for the fountain are being dug and the tank put in. The refurbishment off-site of the fountain is nearly complete and I expect it to be installed by the end of September."

What was now needed, added Cllr Ap Rees, was to lay tarmac and complete work on the roadways and drains.

"To be able to do this we need to temporarily close the road. Of course we realise that this will cause disruption but we have thought about this carefully so that the work will not interfere with summer holidays, the revised Grand Pier opening and continued access for their works, or any major events on the seafront."

A short length of Marine Parade will be closed northbound from Carlton St from September 1 to 24 and Royal Parade will not be open to through traffic from Knightstone Rd between September 1 and 10. Access to the Winter Gardens and the Sovereign Centre will be maintained.

The diversion route takes in South Parade, Waterloo St, Boulevard, Alfred St, Locking Rd, Station Rd, Carlton St and vice versa.

There will also be a road closure on Oxford Street where it meets Beach Road from September 15 until 24.

Mr Ap Rees added: "The diversion route will be well signposted and we are getting the contractor to sign destinations at the north end of the seafront from Hildesheim Bridge.

"We are letting businesses know what we are doing and I would encourage everyone to keep using them while the disruption is happening.

"We are coming into the final furlong of this project which will see another area of our town transformed for the better."