Why is South Shields' South Pier closed?

South Shields' South Pier is closed to the public because it sustained severe damage from waves during Storm Ingrid.

What part of the pier was damaged?

A section of the sea wall near the lighthouse on South Shields' South Pier was battered by waves.

When will the pier reopen?

Public access to South Shields' South Pier is strictly prohibited until a safety assessment can be safely conducted, with an update expected in the coming days.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Storm Wrecks South Pier: Access Banned

Storm Wrecks South Pier: Access Banned

26 Jan

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Summary

South Shields' South Pier suffered severe damage from storm waves.
A section of the sea wall near the lighthouse was badly battered.
Public access is strictly prohibited until a safety assessment.

South Shields' South Pier is now closed to the public following significant damage inflicted by Storm Ingrid. The intense wave action on Saturday battered a section of the sea wall located near the pier's lighthouse, causing what has been described as severe damage.

Port of Tyne officials have made the decision to prohibit all public access to the pier. This measure is in place as the authorities await the opportunity to conduct a thorough safety assessment of the affected area. Graeme Hardie, Port operations director, emphasized that access remains strictly prohibited until it is deemed safe to proceed.

This incident follows previous repair work on the lighthouse in 2025, which was necessitated after its dome was ripped off by Storm Babet two years prior. Other repair work on the sea wall was already ongoing. The Port of Tyne has indicated that further updates regarding the next steps will be communicated in the upcoming days.