Check-up for Cromer pier

Ed FossSpecialist surveyors have been inspecting the underside of Cromer Pier with the help of ropes and safety equipment as part of a wider project to manage the landmark structure over the next 20 years.Ed Foss

Specialist surveyors have been inspecting the underside of Cromer Pier with the help of ropes and safety equipment as part of a wider project to manage the landmark structure over the next 20 years.

The surveyors from Hemsley Orrell Partnership have been abseiling underneath the pier this week and are due to continue today as they assess the state of metalwork and gather other information to help North Norfolk District Council create a long-term maintenance programme.

Although most people only see the deck, the theatre and the other 'topside' structures, the pier's Victorian support system below is more important in terms of safety. And, because it is immersed in corrosive sea water, it needs to be managed carefully.

The surveyors will also be back to conduct a beach-based survey of the lower parts of the structure when the very low spring tides come this month or early next month.

They may have to do some of this work in the early hours with the aid of industrial lighting.

And it may be necessary to employ divers to inspect certain parts of the pier if these are not exposed enough by the tides.