I have checked with mark on current state of wall issues and repairs ect and can now give an update of sorts being as there are now a few enquiries and a decent spell of weather. so first up is the
WEST WALL (to remain closed)
As it says, the west wall will for now remain closed.
Some may already be aware already that the marina plan to continue with caisson filling to strengthen both walls. For the west this work is expected to start in March and obviously subject to weather conditions allowing the work to progress. During this work the wall will be classed as a building site and will be closed to all on both levels.
Due to the work starting so soon it is pointless jet washing, time to do it, staffing ect makes it somewhat pointless. Granted the algae this year is not such a serious problem but any moisture /frost/rain ect makes that algae like an ice rink.
The repair work is expected to last until the end of July but needless to say is subject to weather conditions being suitable to do the work which will require a dive boat stationed off the wall.
EAST WALL
currently closed, jet washing was planned to start a few weeks ago but the pipe work and water lines to be used have been condemned by Southern Water as a major Legionnaires disease risk. The current set up has been a spur line from the cafe water supply that ran 3/4 the length of the wall. Unfortunately this was a single one way line that left standing water in the water line and has been condemned as unsafe .
The result of this means that the marina has to put in suitable pipe work with a return flow so there is no standing water in the supply line. This is in hand and being worked on by the marina but it has meant that Mark has been unable to start any jet washing on the EAST WALL until the supply is resolved.

As well as the water supply issues there has been lots of concrete debris to remove from storm damaged areas of the EAST and I’m told that has now been completed.
POSTS & WIRES on the east are still being repaired and replaced as needed and is taking a bit longer than expected due to the high number of posts that need replacing and some smaller levels of damage to where the wires fix to the wall that have been damaged or smashed away. As a result extra wiring and red posts were needed above what is kept in the marina stores.

SO WHERE does that leave us with regards to opening the east to anglers…….

Mark is working on something and has a plan of action, if the weather holds he will be starting work on the EAST lower levels very soon. He is targeting March but obviously having the right equipment in place makes things progress quicker than has happened this year.
The work on the wires and posts should be soon finished and there are some minor hole repairs to sort on the upper walkways. While that continues Mark will deal with the excess algae issue and as mentioned he is hoping to have the EAST OPEN somewhen in MARCH.
Yes March is the aim, no we cant say when in March as we are still restricted in repair gear and water issues. so will it be early or late March ? hard to say but if the weather holds the plan is to have the wall open in MARCH (somewhen)

While the west is closed there will not be any night fishing as things stand. The east once open will open on a daylight only basis.
While we all realise people want to get onto the walls to fish for the early plaice the deciding factor is safety insurances, so, please be patient, we are very nearly there.
F