THE lights on Boscombe Pier have been turned off because they keep leaking rainwater and short circuiting, it has been claimed.
It is the third major fault reported by the Echo since Carillion oversaw a £2.4 million refurbishment of the pier in 2008.
The 28 lights have been turned off for around one month, according to ward councillor Chris Wakefield.
He said the council is now trying to seek money back from Carillion, claiming the lights were not correctly installed.
Cllr Wakefield said: “I am sure that if these were the Bournemouth Pier lights, we would have fixed them immediately.
“This is sending the wrong message out to our visitors and our residents. Boscombe is not second best. It should be treated the same as Bournemouth.”
In June 2010 Carillion carried out emergency repairs after it was discovered structural piles off the end of the pier were exposed.
And in November that year, the council discovered a boat belonging to one of Carillion’s sub-contractors had collided with the pier and damaged two support piles.
The firm is arranging repair work to be carried out in the autumn.
Chris Saunders, Seafront and Business Development Manager, said: “The Boscombe Pier lights are currently switched off due to a technical fault.
“We are currently in discussions with Carillion, the pier contractors, to find a solution to resolve this problem.
“Once this has been resolved we will ensure that members of the public are made aware.”
A Carillon spokesman said: “We understand the lights are currently switched off and we are working closely with Bournemouth Council to investigate the technical issues and resolve the situation as swiftly as possible.”
