'Awful' repair job on Portsmouth sea defences just a temporary fix during pandemic
RESURFACING works on one section of the city's sea defences branded 'awful' and 'a mess' are only temporary, the council has confirmed, with a full restoration planned once supplies are available.
Part of the promenade in front of the Southsea war memorial was reopened to the public on May 1, having been closed since the winter when it was damaged by storms.
But social media users were quick to criticise the resurfacing works, which created a black-top patch on the path that was not blended in.
However, Portsmouth City Council's deputy leader, Councillor Steve Pitt, said: 'It was either leave it as it was, unfinished, with the promenade closed off or do a temporary repair job so it could still be accessed.
'Due to the pandemic our usual supply chain was not available and we thought it was more important to open it up than to keep waiting.'
A council spokeswoman added: 'To assist with social distancing measures along the seafront, we undertook this very temporary repair to allow this section to be reopened for pedestrians (the diversion along the security fence did not allow for two metre distance.)
'Due to current Covid-19 restrictions, it was not possible to source the red-top material, therefore the temporary black-top surface has been laid.
'Once restrictions have been lifted, a full repair will be carried out, where the red-top material and paving stones will be instated to match the surrounding promenade.'
The whole of the Southsea sea defences is still set to be transformed as part of a new £130m defence scheme at a later date.