Plymouth’s historical West Hoe Pier has been destroyed by Storm Bram today.
The structure is over 100 years old and a Grade 2 listed structure.
Plymouth City Council claim that they have been carrying out a maintenance regime to ‘stabilise’ the structure.
With winds gusting up to 60 miles per hour today, the section of the pier that the council have been working on has collapsed.
Intense winds are forecasted again tonight, and the pier is expected to sustain further damage.
Many locals have questioned the integrity of the council’s recent work, as the only part of the pier to suffer storm damage is the part they have been working on.
A spokesperson for Plymouth City Council said:
"Part of the West Hoe Pier collapsed earlier today as Storm Bram brought huge waves to batter Plymouth’s waterfront.
"The arm of the eastern pier had been undergoing strengthening work – including infilling its interior which had been filled with smaller stone – that had been dragged out by the tide over time.
"Unfortunately, current ferocious weather and sea conditions have caused the outer wall to cave in, with the damage becoming clear as the tide began to ebb.
"Strong winds are predicted again tonight and contractors will have to wait until low water tomorrow – for safety reasons – to gauge the full extent of the damage.
"They intend to formulate a plan and a rough programme to instigate urgent repairs as soon as possible."
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