On Saturday 2 April we held a "Party on the Pier"  with the theme will be Ryde Revival - music through the ages to celebrate the re-opening and also link in to National Pier Week.

A great day was had by all and we would like to thank all those who came along on the day to support the event.

Local music talents: Platform One, IOW Symphony Orchestra, Medina Marching Band and Medina High School

Local Charities: Earl Mountbatten Hospice, Brainstrust and St Catherines School

Local producers: Minghella Icecreams with some tasty delights, IOW Brewery, Gordon Manning with his stunning pieces made from the old pier wood and IOW Bacon

Local Societies: NatWest Island Games came along to promote the games being held 25 June to 1 July and Ryde Heritage Society demonstrating the extensive history of Ryde Pier.

Ryde Pier Re-opens

Ryde Pier was reopened today (Monday 14 March) after months of essential repair work and £5million investment.

Vehicles now wanting access to the pier will have to pay an £1 toll charge on top of any parking charges to help the cross solent ferry company cover the costs of ongoing maintenance on the grade 2 listed structure.

Car parking charges had already been subject to an annual increase, but those prices have now been lowered to take account of the toll charge paid by customers.

Average speed check cameras have also been installed on the pier in a bid to ensure drivers stick to the 10mph speed limit, and vehicles are restricted from access if they're over 2.25m high or weigh over three tonnes. The new restrictions have been introduced to protect the heritage pier from future damage.

A second phase of work is now underway on the concrete west end of the pier which is expected to be completed by July.

Sean Millward, Wightlink Route Manager East Solent said: "It is a great relief to have Ryde Pier up and running again so that all our customers can access the Wightlink terminal, whether they are travelling on foot or in a vehicle. We very much hope that they will enjoy the new, enhanced facilities on the pier."

Ryde Pier due to open on schedule

Ryde Pier is due to re-open to vehicles, motorbikes and pedestrians next week after owners Wightlink completed the first phase of essential repairs to the historic Grade II-listed structure on schedule.  The repair work was made possible by an injection of £5 million by the ferry operator after the pier unexpectedly failed a routine maintenance check last July.   

The complex repairs undertaken since then have included removing and replacing the steel girders and wooden planks along the pier.  A second phase of work is now underway on the concrete west end of the pier and Wightlink expects this to be completed by July.

As part of the renovation work Wightlink has also refurbished its two ornate shelters and its mens, ladies and disabled toilets, in which energy saving heat source pumps and energy saving devises for sanitaryware and lighting have been installed.  Meanwhile new ornate lighting is in the process of being added along the pier and is expected to be completed during April.

At the beginning of 2010 Wightlink secured listed building consent to undertake a long term programme of improvements to Ryde Pier including the provision of additional parking and a new traffic system, both designed to improve the passenger experience.  Work on these projects has been implemented in tandem with the emergency repairs and a new larger car park is now open.

As previously announced, a toll of £1 has been introduced for all vehicles using Ryde Pier, including motorbikes.  The charge is payable on entry to the pier at a coin operated barrier and although car parking charges had already been subject to an annual increase, those prices have now been lowered to take account of the toll charge paid by customers.  

In the interest of protecting the heritage pier against future damage, Wightlink has imposed a height limit of 2.25m and weight limit of three tonnes for any vehicle wishing to use the pier.  It is also ensuring that the 10mph speed limit is adhered to by all vehicles with the installation of average speed check cameras.

Sean Millward, Wightlink Route Manager East Solent said: “It is a great relief to have Ryde Pier up and running again so that all our customers can access the Wightlink terminal, whether they are travelling on foot or in a vehicle.  We very much hope that they will enjoy the new, enhanced facilities on the pier.”  

Ryde Pier - Closure to Vehicular Traffic

Following July’s closure of Ryde Pier to vehicles because the historic Grade II-listed structure failed a routine maintenance check, owners Wightlink have now secured funding of £5 million and have received Local and National Heritage support for the necessary repair works. These will safeguard the future of the Victorian pier – the UK’s oldest - and ensure the viability of the Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head passenger service.

Work is well underway on removing the existing wooden planks from Ryde Pier. A temporary walkway has been built by Wightlink on the supports of the old tramway pier to maintain pedestrian access to the Catamaran service whilst the Promenade Pier is being repaired.

Subject to weather conditions, Wightlink expects Ryde Pier to re-open to vehicles by the end of March 2011.

Sean Millward, Wightlink Route Manager East Solent said: “We are relieved that all the necessary financial and planning procedures have been cleared so that we can expedite the necessary repair works to Ryde Pier. Wightlink is totally committed to both its Portsmouth Harbour-Ryde Pier Head route and to the maintenance of Ryde Pier itself and we are keen for our customers to benefit from the enhanced facilities that we were in the process of implementing when the structural problems were discovered in July.”

At the beginning of 2010 Wightlink received listed building consent to proceed with a long term programme of improvements to Ryde Pier, which is due to celebrate its bi-centenary in 2014. Those improvements include additional parking and a new traffic system, designed to provide better passenger facilities.

Progress so far...

In addition to the £3.5m further funds are required in the near future to undertake additional works to further parts of the pier structure.  With these and higher costs associated with maintaining this Grade 11 Listed Structure Wightlink regrettably have no option but to re-introduce the pier toll charge for vehicles once the pier is re-opened to assist with these costs. The toll charge has not yet been confirmed and details of the charges will be released in due course.  No charge will be made for pedestrians or cyclists

Issued: 20 September 2010