A specialist piece of machinery will be arriving on Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier this week (Monday 21st June), to install the three and a half kilometres of feature lighting on the new Pavilion building and covered walkway.
The narrow-entrance access work platform, or Spider as it is known in the trade, can fit through very narrow spaces and then stabilise itself by spreading out its legs. The arm of the Spider is capable of reaching working heights of up to 29 metres.
The work platform has been chosen for the job because of its versatility and also because it only weights 3.5 tonnes. The Spider runs on an electric battery and auxiliary engine so it is completely self-sufficient.
The Red, Green and Blue (RGB) LED feature lighting system will run the length of the waist of the Pier following the contours of the canopy from the shore end. It will then transfer over to the Pavilion building where three rows of lights will be installed throughout. The lighting system is being installed by contractors John Sisk & Sons.
The lighting system can be programmed to pulse, sending light along the Pier and across the Pavilion building in wave-like motions. It can also be programmed to be any colour.
The Spider will be delivered to the Pier on Monday 21st June. It will be brought to Weston-super-Mare from Essex by Universal Aerial Platforms.
Lee Kerr from Universal Platforms said: “The 29 metre Spider is the Rolls Royce of these machines. It is ideal when you have very tight working conditions and strict weight limits”.
Pier Owner Kerry Michael said: “Re-building the Pavilion, a quarter of a mile out to sea, has brought a whole host of logistical problems with it. We have had to use the very latest in modern technology to overcome the second fastest rising tide in the World and we have had to strictly adhere to our two ton axle weight restriction. Putting the feature lighting into position will be like putting the icing on the cake. We are now putting the finishing touches to our indoor theme park”.
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