There’s still no firm date for mending the popular Riverside Park pontoon, which has been broken and out of use for around four months.

A firm favourite of many Bitterne Parkers for fishing and bird feeding, it’s thought the pontoon has been out of action since at least early February.

It’s understood that while the repair might seem like a straightforward job, part of the delay is down to “unusual risks” apparently considered to be involved.

Photographed in February

Last month David Fuller, a former Conservative ward councillor who lost his seat to Labour in the recent local election, suggested Riverside “isn’t being looked after as well as it used to be”.

Photographed in February

He wrote on his Facebook page: “The pontoon remains closed. The budget was allocated for its repair weeks ago but still no work has taken place. It seems Riverside isn’t being looked after as well as it used to be.”

We asked the council for an estimated completion date, and to clarify what work needs to be done and why it’s taking this length of time.

A spokesperson said: “Our team are in the process of working with engineers to identify the most appropriate, cost effective and safe solution for repairing the damage to the pontoon, or replacing it. Once the options have been assessed and costed, we will be able to put a firm date in the diary for the work to be undertaken.”

Photographed late May

Photographed late May

 

A fair point. The last we heard was that it's not as simple as reattaching it due to tidal movements. And that part of the revetment (bank) may need to be rebuilt.

— Friends of Riverside Park (@FriendsofRiver3) June 2, 2023

Updated with tweet responses post story publication