Southend Pier accidentally extended to France in ‘minor’ engineering miscalculation

Construction workers carrying out renovations on Southend Pier have reportedly extended it all the way to France, following what officials are describing as a “minor engineering miscalculation.”

The historic pier, already the longest in the world, was undergoing structural improvements when contractors overshot their measurements. What was intended to be a modest extension to improve visitor access somehow resulted in several miles of additional pier, which now stretches into the English Channel and terminates just outside Calais.

Authorities only became aware of the error when confused French officials contacted Southend Council to report the sudden appearance of a wooden walkway on their coastline.

"Initially, we thought it was a prank," a French government spokesperson said. "But after further investigation, we realised it was just a case of Southend forgetting to stop building."

A spokesperson for Southend City Council assured residents that there was “nothing to worry about,” stating that the issue was the result of a minor miscalculation in materials. “These sorts of things happen in large-scale engineering projects,” they said.

“We intended to extend the pier by a few metres, but unfortunately, a slight discrepancy in our measurements meant that, instead of stopping in Southend, the construction team carried on for around 21 miles.”

Despite the blunder, the council are already looking at ways to turn the mistake into an opportunity. “We are now exploring the potential benefits of a direct walking route to France,” the spokesperson added. “With current travel costs, this could be an affordable alternative to flights or ferries.”

The new Southend-Calais Pier Walk, as it is now being called, has already attracted interest from budget-conscious tourists eager to try out the world’s first cross-border seaside stroll. However, travel experts have warned that walking to France could take several hours, and there are currently no benches or toilets along the way.

Local reaction has been mixed, with some residents expressing frustration at the oversight, while others are excited by the new international landmark. “I think it’s brilliant,” said one Southend resident. “If the weather’s nice, I might pop over to France for lunch and be back in time for tea.”

However, others have already mistakenly wandered into France, with at least three pensioners attempting to use their bus passes to board French services. Authorities have been forced to issue a public reminder that the new pier is not a recognised border crossing and that “using a bus pass on foreign soil is not advised.”

Meanwhile, French authorities remain deeply unimpressed with the development, insisting that Southend officials “remove their oversized pier from our beach immediately.” However, given the scale of the structure, experts estimate that dismantling it could take years.

“We are not planning to take this lightly,” one official said. “We expect a full review of the situation, including a potential international summit to discuss the implications of British infrastructure overreach.”

Until then, travellers are advised that while walking to France is now technically possible, it is not yet an officially recognised border crossing. Those attempting to stroll into Calais should expect lengthy questioning from confused customs officials.

Southend Council has promised an urgent review of their measuring practices to ensure that future engineering works remain entirely within Britain, but for now, the Southend Pier extension remains open to the public — provided they bring a packed lunch and a passport.