Council responds as 82ft section of river wall collapses in Sunderland

Sunderland City Council has warned a further section of similar length is "very likely" to fail after the collapse at Panns Bank quayside in the city centre.

The council said the area continued to pose "no danger" to the public and had already been fenced off following initial reports of cracking in the pavement. 

The 82ft section of river wall collapsed into the River Wear on March 16 after contractors reported further movement in backfill and quayside piling.

The wall collapsed last month Picture: JAMIE HALL

But it has since remained cordoned off while the council investigates the cause of the collapse, and seeks the most suitable repair option.

A spokesperson for the council said: "Following reports of cracking in the pavement and highways, the City Council and contractors began detailed inspection works in January.

"The aim of these inspections was to help draw up a condition survey that would then inform a future works programme and plans for the rebuilding of the quayside wall.

"These inspections for the survey included ground excavations and work to examine the steel piling of the quayside which has become extremely corroded.

"A further 25 metre section of the quayside is also destabilised, severely weakened and very likely to fail.

"While investigations on causes are continuing, initial conclusions are that water ingress on both sides of the piling weakened it and contributed to the collapse."

The council said it had already put funding in place for the repair works, which will see around 70 metres (around 229ft) of the quayside reconstructed.

They said: "Subject to further investigations, the council anticipates that a 60 to 70 metres section of the quayside will need to be rebuilt.

"The funding for this work was already in place and discussions are ongoing about the most suitable options for repair and improvement works."