Kemp Town boardwalk opened by mayor

Black Rock’s boardwalk in Brighton was officially opened yesterday by the city mayor Councillor Alan Robins.

The 800 metre structure from the Volks railway station to Black Rock station provides an “attractive and safe” route across the beach, and allows those who use a wheelchair to enjoy the area.

“The boardwalk is designed to transform the eastern part of the Kemp Town coastline and enable further development in the future,” said Cllr Robins.

Councillor Alan Robins gave a speech at the opening ceremony

“A key part of the project has been to improve biodiversity in the area, and a newly created area of vegetated shingle is now home to thousands of specially grown coastal plants and seeds, provided by Kew Gardens’ millennium seed bank.”

The grey structure is made from upcycled plastic, with an expected lifespan of 100 years, and has been fixed together using 90,000 steel screws.

The boardwalk's builders welcomed visitors

It brings with it six new crossing points across the Volks railway track, with “improved, wider and safer” access.

Visitors try out the walkway in Kemp Town

People at the unveiling enjoyed ice cream from Boho Gelato’s mobile dispensary, and had the chance to speak with Cllr Robins while strolling along the boardwalk itself.

It is the latest part of the Black Rock project, with the focus now on installing 100 lights over the walkway.