Lymington Quay revamp delayed by a year – and coronavirus may force a rethink on design

A MAJOR revamp of Lymington’s popular Town Quay has been delayed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The £700,000 project includes the demolition of the 20-year-old toilet block for a bigger, flat-roofed structure with eight showers for use by sailors moored at the new pontoons.

Work was due to start this month with a view to it opening by spring 2021, but Lymington harbourmaster Ryan Willegers accepted the Covid-19 situation had made a delay “inevitable”.

The project is being led by landowner New Forest District Council, which is funding it with contributions from the harbour commission and Lymington and Pennington Town Council.

Mr Willegers said: “I think all businesses, including councils, have been adversely affected so it makes sense to just stop and take stock and work to a new, more practicable timeline.

“It’s disappointing but there are businesses up and down the country who have had to put up with a lot worse than this. We’ll live with that and bring it forward when we can.”

He said the delay may cause the design to be “redefined”, pointing out the pause could be a blessing, since if building work started before the pandemic hit it could have required costly alterations to ensure it fitted any new spacing guidelines.

Currently some short-stay parking bays will be cut to create more public space by the sea wall. The new toilet block will allow views across the river and feature a mirrored-steel art installation on ground-level as part of an overall aim to create a more inviting area.

A spokeswoman for NFDC said the partners will meet soon to work out the implications on the scheme.

“The timetable for this will depend on the agreed plans but we are aiming to start in September 2021 as we do not want works happening during the summer months,” she said.

“It is too early to give detail, but Covid-secure requirements will of course be considered. We are not anticipating a change in location or a significant change in the footprint of the building.”