The Queen’s Pier Restoration Trust (QPRT) have today (Thursday) signed with the government the lease for phase two of the Ramsey landmark’s restoration.

The first three bays were opened to the public in a ceremony last month, but the QPRT then needed to negotiate with the Department of Infrastructure the lease for working on the subsequent bays.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker signed on behalf of the DoI, accompanied by the Chief Minister Howard Quayle, while project leader Stuart McKenzie signed on behalf of the QPRT.

Phase two will include bays four to eight, with work expected to start soon.

It took 20 volunteers about 15,000 hours over the past four years to complete the work so far.

However, the work on subsequent bays is expected to go faster, as phase one was particularly labour intensive because it included the double-width section which joins onto the promenade.

The restoration project has so far been funded completely by donations, with work carried out by QPRT volunteers.