January 22nd deadline for sale of Weston Birnbeck Pier
The owners of a dilapidated Victorian pier were given until 22 January to find a buyer, a High Court Judge ruled. The decision relating to Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, was made in a hearing over a loan dispute. If no buyer was found, it could be sold to the charity RNLI for £350,000.
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Redevelopment work at Totland Bay Pier continues
Revised plans for an additional two-storey restaurant at the end of the pier were granted permission. The plans were approved by the Isle of Wight Council on October 29, 2020. It was proposed to include a gatehouse building, balustrading, landing steps and a pontoon.
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Weston Grand pier fears closure until Easter
Weston’s Grand Pier confirmed it did not expect to open until Easter but reassured people that plans were being made for events throughout the new year. The seaside attraction had been closed three times throughout the coronavirus pandemic but its head of operations revealed its team was constantly planning refurbishments and future events.
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Ryde Pier vintage underground rolling stock to be transferred to heritage line
A preservation group was hoping to return a vintage tube train to the Epping Ongar Railway. Since 1967 a number of second hand London Underground tube trains had been used on the ‘Island Line’ on the Isle of Wight, from Ryde Pier Head, to Shanklin. These trains were now due to be retired in January 2021, and the London Transport Traction group said it had secured a 2-Car Class 483 train for preservation.
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Iran to get 134 new seaside piers?
In August 2020, construction of the first recreational pier in Mazandaran began in the city of Ramsar. With a width of three meters and a length of 100 meters, the pier was being constructed by private investors in close collaboration with the provincial cultural heritage department. This pier is one of the 134 piers, which are to be built in the future across the province’s coastal strip, provincial tourism chief Mehran Hassani said.
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Brighton’s Palace Pier starling murmurations have some saucy seaside fun!
The stunning starling murmurations left visitors spellbound time and time again. Hundreds of birds moving in sync in a mass swarm with accuracy the Red Arrows would envy, creating a writhing black cloud of movement in the sky above the city’s pier. But, it had not gone unnoticed that the birds appear to have picked up a new habit in 2021.
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Residents call for the restoration of Walton Pier
Residents urged the owners of Walton Pier to restore the coastal landmark to its glory days. The calls came after a photograph was published online showing a section of roof with holes on the side. The pier owner, businessman Russell Bolesworth bought the site in 2016, promising to turn the ageing jewel into a top tourist destination. Nearly five years on since Mr Bolesworth made his vow, residents remained dissatisfied by the state of the pier.
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Discussions begin on the next phase of regeneration for Ramsey Queen’s Pier
Volunteers behind the restoration of Ramsey Pier began talks with government over the next phase of the project. The Queen’s Pier Restoration Trust signed a five-year lease with the Department of Infrastructure in 2017 to refurbish the first three bays of the Victorian landmark. That phase of the scheme was due to be completed by late spring. And now the trust was hoping to sign a 15-year lease to continue the project, with the second phase to include bays four to eight.
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Pier Of The Year 2021: Voting now open!
Members of the National Piers Society were advised they could begin voting for the 2021 Pier Of The Year by emailing membership@piers.org.uk by 28th February 2021.
All piers that are usually open/accessible to public are eligible, except the winners from the previous five years (Cleethorpes; Hastings; Southsea South Parade; Worthing; Clacton).
Click below for the 2020 Pier of the year.
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Mumbles Pier former lifeboat station to be transformed into restaurant
The owners of Mumbles Pier said they were “delighted” after being given the green light to carry out exciting transformation plans to the iconic Swansea site. Swansea Council approved plans submitted by Fred Bollom to erect two new pavilion buildings on the Grade II listed pier which to become retail, bathroom and cafe units. And the former offshore lifeboat house, situated right at the end of the pier, would be transformed into a brand new restaurant.
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Restoration of Hythe Pier head buildings to begin
The next stage in a £220,000 project to restore Hythe Pier would focus on its revamping buildings which date as far back as 1894. The Hythe Pier Heritage Association set out a plan of works to safeguard the future of the historical structure. Architects and surveyors were looking at the preservation options for the pier head buildings as although the one on the north side, which houses the waiting room, was in reasonable shape structurally, the other was giving cause for concern.
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Roker Pier toilets to be turned into gin bar!
The Davis Family agreed a 10-year lease with Sunderland City Council for the former Roker Toilet Block on Pier View – adjacent to the Bungalow Café – and was set to invest more than £60,000 into the refurbishment of the site, creating 10 jobs. The income from the lease would support the Sunderland Seafront Trust, which operates the Roker Pier and Lighthouse tours and the new income would help it to organise a range of seafront events and activities.
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Photographer captures Cromer Pier in the snow!
On Saturday, January 16, much of Norfolk woke up to a dusting of snow. As the morning wore on the snow kept falling, leading to up to 8cm in some areas. Photographer Brad Damms captured the sight. While most people will be familiar with images of the seaside town at the height of summer, Mr Damms’ images showed the town in a very different light.
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Birnbeck Pier sold to the same owner!
North Somerset Council said it planned to continue with its compulsory purchase of Birnbeck Pier. A spokesman for North Somerset Council said: “Although Birnbeck Pier has changed ownership, the director is the same individual who has owned the historic structure for over a decade, and we remain deeply concerned that he has neglected the pier to such an extent that Historic England has put Birnbeck at the top of the National Buildings at Risk Register. We remain convinced that the Compulsory Purchase Order is the best way forward to restoring the pier and, working with Historic England, getting the RNLI back on the island to do what they do best, saving lives.”
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Celebrations as funding target reached and phase one construction of the new Withernsea Pier can begin!
It was the first of four stages which should eventually see a 500ft pier constructed – less than half the size, but wider than the original structure of 1877, which lasted less than three decades after being hit by a number of ships. Work should begin on the viewing platform in March, with the aim of opening to the public in the summer. The main contractor would be UK Industrial Services based near Manchester.
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Blackpool North Pier theatre remains on Theatres Trust ‘at risk list’
In a statement, the trust said that, while the uncertainty owing to the pandemic has had a “devastating” impact on the UK theatre industry, “relatively few theatre operators have ceased trading and fortunately none of the buildings left empty look to be in imminent danger.” Some 21 theatres were unveiled on the register, highlighting venues that were in need of refurbishment but could be of greater value to communities if they were given more support.
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