Skegness Clock Tower repairs soon to take place

Repairs are soon going to be carried out on the retaining wall of the Skegness Clock Tower. The iconic landmark is typically the first sight for tourists driving from Lumley Road to the beach.

However, Lincolnshire County Council officials have recently received complaints about the condition of the outer wall, noting that some of the coping slabs on top have become damaged over time.

While the exact cause of the damage is still unclear, Skegness North Councillor Carl Macey (Conservative) believes it could be due to wear and tear, as well as pedestrians walking on the structure.

In recent weeks, officers have collected a sample of the wall and traced the original brickwork manufacturer, who is producing a “like-for-like” copy to ensure the new sections blend seamlessly with the existing structure.

Repairs are expected to start after the school summer holidays. Still, Cllr Macey has been given a “cast-iron guarantee” that the work will be completed before the remembrance services in November when poppies are expected to adorn the clock tower.

“There’s been some damage to the retaining wall around the Skegness Clock Tower, so the county council’s highways team will be carrying out repairs after the summer holidays,” said Cllr Macey.

“We’re not sure how the damage occurred, but the broken sections need to be fixed because they could pose a risk for drivers if they fall onto the road.

“Although we don’t have a specific date set for the works yet, they’ll most likely be carried between mid-September and early October, but definitely before this year’s Remembrance Day parade.”

Cllr Macey also explained that there was a “back and forth” over a matter of weeks between Lincolnshire County Council and East Lindsey District Council regarding ownership of the outer wall and responsibility for the repairs.

It later transpired that while the Clock Tower and the surrounding grass area are owned by ELDC, ownership of the outer wall was moved to LCC in 1996. However, the transfer was never registered.

According to Cllr Macey, neither council took responsibility for the mishap, but both acted swiftly to resolve the issue and move forward.