Negotiations
over an insurance claim following the collapse of a section of the ride deck on
Clacton Pier are still not resolved four months on.
Pier
bosses revealed that the delay has meant repairs to the affected area on the
west side of the landmark have not gone ahead as hoped.
The
knock-on effect is that the new Looping Star roller coaster ride planned for
that site may need to be delayed until the 2022 season if an agreement is not reached
within the next four to six weeks.
Director
Billy Ball said that the absence of a roller coaster this year is already a
major blow for the Pier; the prospect of a second season without the presence of
such a headline attraction is a major concern.
“Aviva,
the Pier’s insurers, have been helpful to date but unfortunatley their
appointed engineers have only managed to reach a preliminary conclusion with
much of their report having been based on assumptions,” he added.
“We have worked as quickly and we possibly can to help
them where we can to establish factual informformation and evidence that they
can use to better understand the cause.
“Having
provided the factual data we must now work quickly to agree the cause and the
value of the claim if we are to achieve the reinstatement works and the roller
coaster’s installation prior to the start of next season.”
Mr
Ball added that if the rebuilding works are not complete before February then
it will be almost impossible to install the Looping Star in time for the 2021
season.
“This
would significantly increase costs on all sides and both parties need to
continue to work together to avoid such a situation if we possibly can,” he emphasised.
“The
Pier hopes to have some more positive news within the next couple of weeks.”
The
collapse of the small section of the ride deck occurred on February 14
following the effects of Storm Ciara.
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