Informal report ‘not favourable’ councillor says
by Sophie Kuijper Dickson
Bristol
Feb. 12, 2024
The Municipality of Bristol has received an informal report about the state of the Norway Bay pier following an in-depth assessment of the pier conducted last fall, including an underwater evaluation of its structural integrity.
“The preliminary report Bristol has received is not a favourable one,” Bristol councillor Valerie Twolan-Graham said in an email to THE EQUITY, noting she could not discuss the contents of the informal report at the time.
“We are awaiting the . . .
full report from the engineering firm before a decision can be made regarding the use of the Norway Bay pier,” she wrote.
In a post to the Norway Bay Facebook group, Twolan-Graham hinted at potential closure.
“No decision has yet been made [regarding] closure of the pier although that, unfortunately, may be the reality.”
Twolan-Graham explained that the pier, which is over 70 years old, has sustained several floods in recent years which caused significant damage.
“We have seen an increase in the number of sinkholes on the pier which have been repaired each year to allow for its continued use,” she said in the email.
Last year the pier was closed until June as it underwent one round of such repairs.
“Our Council decided last fall that, rather than just refilling sinkholes each subsequent year, we needed to investigate the cause for those occurring in the first place.”
Twolan-Graham said she hopes the formal report will be received and discussed at Bristol’s next council meeting on Mar. 4.
“I think that we will have a much clearer direction at that time.”
In her Facebook post, she said council had approved the formation of a Pier Committee, which will be given a mandate once the formal report has been received.
