The steps have been damaged by steady cliff slippage over recent years and £1.4m was added to the Council’s capital programme as part of the 2016/17 budget-setting process to carry out the work required.
The work, which will be carried out by the Council’s contractor Marlborough, is expected to take up to six months. As well as replacing the existing steps and handrails, works will include path repairs and the installation of new LED lighting. The steps and adjoining paths will be closed to the public while the work is carried out, with alternative routes in operation and clearly signed.
Cllr Ann Holland, Executive Councillor for Tourism, Culture and the Economy, said: “These steps connect Marine Parade to Belton Way West and Leigh Station and are heavily used by railway commuters and visitors alike.
“However, their condition has deteriorated over the years because of ground movement and they have become uneven. While the Council has fixed and patched up damaged steps, they need to be completely replaced and that is why funding was allocated in 2016.
“I am very happy that work will start in a few weeks’ time, enabling us to keep this important route open to the public in future.”