Investigations are ongoing into reinforcing the shelters at Happy Valley in Port St Mary.

Reinforcing the steelwork looks likely to be the preferred option to filling them in after a second structural report was done.

The local authority is debating what to do about the shelters where concrete posts holding up the covered seating area above the grass slope above Chapel beach are flaking.

A structural survey was done in 2010. Commissioners discussed this recently and, concerned about the cost of repairs and making the work secure enough to support the road above, potentially up to £500,000, the authority considered filling them in.

A second report, this time by structural engineer John Gray said: ’There is no evidence of movement due to failure of any beams or columns. The structure is not in a dangerous condition but there is a significant risk of fragments of concrete becoming dislodged and falling. The rusting process causes steel to expand to seven times its original thickness and is capable of blowing off concrete. If deterioration continues, it will become dangerous and partial collapse will occur. If the full design load on the pavement or ramp were to be applied where beams are severely corroded, failure is likely to occur.’

Damage ’is now too advanced for economic repairs to be undertaken... Alternative support is required’.

He proposed new steelwork to support the existing beams and coating of the structure to give protection and said this should be done within two years.

Because the shelters support part of the roadway, commissioners’ chairman Michellle Haywood said there could be financial comntribution from the Department of Infrastructure.

She said: ’There’s a happy outlook for Happy Valley.’