THE Department of Infrastructure will ask for Tynwald approval to spend almost two million pounds to protect the Queen's Pier in Ramsey.
If approval is granted the department will spend £1.76 million on a stabilisation and protection scheme - but this will not result in public access to the pier.
Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne said: "The continued deterioration of the pier places the public, vessels and the pier itself at significant risk.
"In the face of these risks the department has a duty to improve safety and in doing so preserve the structure in the medium term for a future refurbishment scheme. The proposed works can therefore be seen as the initial stage of refurbishment.
"Finally, I am also very pleased to acknowledge the support given to the department's proposals by the Friends of the Queen's Pier."
Under the scheme work will be carried out on the remaining pier structure including replacing sections of timber decking and joints, replacing missing cross-bracing to the pier legs and replacing corroded sections of the lattice girders.
The work would also include the storage of cast iron features on the pier deck including railings, seats and lighting and the two toll huts.
The landward entrance building will be retained and will undergo minor building maintenance works to protect the fabric and also maintain its secondary function by providing additional security to the pier access.
The department said the work would reduce the health and safety risks to the public on the beach from sections that fall from the pier and to vessels from items that may remain afloat.
If funding is approved, the works are scheduled to start in early May and last for eight months. Given the specialist nature of the work only 13 percent of the total money (£155,000) would be spent locally. This would be on all underwater work which would be carried out by the department's dive team.
The department has said that undertaking this work is safeguarding the pier for a future refurbishment scheme when government's financial position has improved.
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