Nearly 33 months after the Riverside Park pontoon was first reported broken, a new bridge and fittings have been fabricated and await galvanising before reinstallation.
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It’s thought the pontoon was first noted as broken in a tweet from a member of the public on January 29, 2023, which the council acknowledged at the time [see full twitter thread].
@FriendsofRiver3 apologies if you already know about this, I'd report it but no idea who to report it to! One of the steel wires stabilising the pontoon has failed. They presumably take the strain off the hinges, one of which is already showing damage. Needs some work I think! pic.twitter.com/z1rIZITSj2
— Ian T (@Eor_deLampe) January 29, 2023
Finally, it was hauled out of the river on a cold April day this year (April 14, 2025), after 27 months out of use. Repairs were initially expected to take around six weeks, which would have meant a return by May 26.
By June 24, 2025, it became clear more work was needed, with some bespoke parts requiring longer lead times. Cllr John Savage, cabinet member for green city and net zero, said the connecting bridge was being fabricated and would undergo galvanising to extend its service life, and that all replacement parts would be installed before the pontoon returned to the water.
The pontoon: still taking it easy in the park
It is now understood that the new bridge and replacement fittings have been fabricated and sent off for hot dip galvanising. Only when that is complete will the pontoon’s return to the water be scheduled.
Precisely why the repairs have taken quite so long is unclear, but many will nonetheless be pleased to finally hear of some progress.