Gorleston's White Lion Steps restoration work begins

The state of the White Lion steps connecting Cliff Hill and Beach Road in Gorleston has long been a source of local frustration.

A landslip in April 2012 narrowly missed a 12-year-old boy, and one side has been blocked off ever since.

In May this year, Norfolk County Council, as owner of the steps, confirmed the site will be closed until September 6 for restoration work costing £600,000. 

Graham Plant, Norfolk county councillor. (Image: Archant)

And Graham Plant, cabinet member at County Hall for highways, infrastructure and transport, has now given an update on the work.

Since May 20, he said, the restoration site has been set up and preliminary works have been carried out including the installation of the above-ground water mains diversion, as well as a drainage investigation and ground penetrating radar survey.

The main repair work began on Tuesday, June 11, with the reduction of the ground level on the private land adjacent to Cliff Hill, allowing works to start on the retaining wall.

Last month, Great Yarmouth Borough Council granted planning permission to build the new retaining wall along the south side of the steps.

This will allow the reopening of the second flight of steps that have been closed since the landslip in 2012.

The steps are an important local feature and at their lower level they are adjacent to the historic Admiral Duncan's Pump which dates from the Napoleonic era.

A planning document states that the repair work will mean there should be less run-off water moving over the steps from upper to lower levels.

Approving the application, planning officers said the proposal will improve the public realm and have public safety benefits that extend beyond the site.

They said the work will return the steps to public use for greater accessibility and movement.