Worthing Pier is OPEN
Worthing Pier re-opened to the public on Wednesday, following closure and emergency repairs which have been imposed since October. Naturally, the two restaurant businesses based on the pier are delighted and have immediately re-opened bookings, but the penalty to their trade over the last two months is clear.
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Helensburgh Pier – Lease Arrangements in Progress
The Helensburgh Pier Company have submitted a request to Argyll & Bute Council for a 25 year lease of Helensburgh Pier, to be potentially extended to 50 years. The proposals and phasing so far prepared will be considered by councillors in a meeting next week. The first phase concerns structural repair works which will allow the closure notice to be lifted and such vessels as P. S. Waverley to land at the pier. A council condition of this lease is that this first phase must be completed within five years.
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Roker Pier – Repairs Starting from April
Reports on repair proposals at Roker Pier have already been circulated, but now Sunderland Council have confirmed that repairs will not begin until April 2025 at the earliest, so that protected nesting birds will not be disturbed. The ongoing Listed Building Consent application will likely reach a decision in January.
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Southsea Clarence Pier – Flooding Concerns
The owner of Clarence Pier has expressed concerns that the pier has not been protected in the ongoing flood defence works in Southsea. Such works generally include a system of earth bunds, flood gates and concrete walls and are foremost installed to protect housing from flooding. The project manager confirmed that the protection of commercial businesses had to settle for a second priority.
No protective measures have been implemented which directly protect the pier from flooding, something which surely would be very difficult to achieve in any case. Aside from installing under-deck armour to protect a pier’s structure from extreme storm events (as took place at Teignmouth Pier in 2016), there is likely little that one can do to protect seaside piers from sea level rise in the long-term.
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Llandudno Pier – Happy Valley Entrance Repairs Nearing Completion (and a rambling on pier lengths)
Five replacement girders are presently in the process of being replaced at the Pier’s original entrance. The work is expected to be completed by before the end of the year, and will be re-opened in an organised event some time in the future. Proposed catering facilities and attractions will hopefully enliven what was previously a slightly overshadowed part of the pier.
This is, as the pier management state, only the second time in the pier’s history that it has been severed from its original entrance. Arguably, this temporarily converts the mode of the pier’s layout from a straight pier of 376m length, with an extended limb – into a layout where the limb becomes an integral part of the pier (if it was not already). This latter state is seemingly where the length of 700m (2295 feet) is derived from, although this length requires the entire stretch of the pier extension and promenade to be factored in, all the way to the cluster of kiosks before the amusement arcade. Now some of this stretch of the pier is not, in my own opinionated belief, a valid pier structure. The true pier structure begins to emerge as one passes the Grand Hotel; the interface between solid ground and pier planks running at a sharp angle according to the edge of the coastline (for your interest, this exact point is shown in the thumbnail picture). This also happens to be the point where the distinctive pier balustrades start. On this metric, the pier ought to be at most 568m in length, with the rest being part of the stone promenade of Llandudno. If one judges the straight section of the pier, which is architecturally the best part, Bangor can actually boast a greater length. But then again, piers are notoriously difficult to measure and so perhaps we ought to just accept Llandudno for the Big 700 that it is. One wonders where the numbers we now accept as lengths came from… did Simon Adamson take a trundle wheel with him, all those years ago? And it is perhaps wise that no precise length for Folkestone Harbour Arm has been offered on the NPS website, for it would surely cause too much controversy! And how one is meant to measure Scheveningen Pier (Netherlands), with its three limbs, I know not!
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Llandudno – Considerable Storm Damage
Storm Darragh hit North Wales on Saturday and, unfortunately, inflicted substantial damage to the superstructure of Llandudno Pier. Most notable was the entire loss of an ice cream kiosk and the foundation failure of one of the eight main kiosks, which now lies on its side across the deck, seemingly relatively intact. Much lead roofing has been lost throughout all of the pier’s structures. Pier management invited well-wishers, of which there were many, to help raise money for the necessary repair work by making a donation on GoFundMe. So far, about £15,000 has been raised. It is estimated that repairs may cost up to £250,000, and most recently some further technical details as to what repairs are required have been revealed. The ambition is to repair and reopen the entire pier by Easter 2025, it being clear that it will earn very little money for ongoing maintenance whilst it remains closed – an admirable attitude for the pier management to commit to, so soon after the storm.
If you are interested in donating, a link to the pier’s fundraising page is provided.
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Donation Page
Ryde Pier – Railway to reopen in May
Network Rail have reported that ongoing repair works to the railway structure at Ryde Pier, one of three parallel structures to connect to the pier head, is on schedule despite recent storms. The railway connection to the Hythe Ferry will reopen in May 2025. It would seem that much of the work relates to the replacement of the steel members which constitute this span of the pier, as well as the tracks, and is costed at £19 million.
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Clacton – Roof repairs in progress
The east side of the main pier buildings received considerable investment in 2018, with a renewed roof structure and new Crazy Golf and soft play attractions. Now the West side will receive a rolling programme of roof repairs. Some of this work is already completed, the intention being to complete the work sequentially so as to prevent extended closure of this entire part of the pier.
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Brighton i360 – THE PEOPLE WANT IT DESTROYED
The Argus have provoked further conversation regarding the future of the i360 observation tower, following the administration of the operating company. A reader’s survey was organised and the prevailing result was the favouring of the option: “Dismantle it and replace it with something else”.
These discussions, it must be said, are not particularly helpful since the future of the i360 depends solely on whether the enterprise gets taken over by another willing company, and not from sensationalist “knee-jerk” reactions from stroppy readers. That said, it gives an essence on the public’s attitude on the attraction as it currently stands. If the situation ends up proceeding in this way, then the i360 joins the suite of fallen seaside observation towers as in Weymouth, Morecambe, Rhyl, Lee-on-the-Solent, Great Yarmouth and New Brighton. Let future generations refrain, therefore, from erecting any more… what they should do instead is erect more piers! But what to do with this tower? The cylindrical shaft could be converted into a monster wind turbine and the pod taken down and relocated as a space age park pavilion!
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Blackpool Trams – Going away on Tuesday, coming back on Wednesday?
Sporadic decisions seem to have arisen regarding the Blackpool tram network. An announcement on Tuesday that the heritage trams would be withdrawn from service caused widespread outrage. Such a decision was reasoned with a loose string of words: Safety…efficient…difficult…cherished part of…
Regardless of them being “cherished”, on Tuesday they were to be gone.
Whatever Blackpool Transport intended to do on Tuesday, a different course of action was in force the following day, to everyone’s delight. The heritage trams will be running along the promenade again next year, after a number of safety improvements and maintenance works to the network. This, of course, seems much more sensible and it can be appreciated that such things require considerable maintenance work to ensure passenger safety. The heritage trams are certainly one of the jewels of modern Blackpool.
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Hythe Pier – Still no pontoon
The Hythe Ferry service has been withdrawn since August, after the floating pontoon linkspan was found to be damaged. After a long period of silence, Red Funnel Ferries have suggested that they will be reluctant to repair the pontoon until they are certain that the overall ferry enterprise can be deemed financially sustainable and that the repair costs will be recouped by ferry revenue within a sufficiently short time. They venture to suggest that passenger numbers are presently (or, before August) not enough for a sustainable business in the long-term, but they are in the process of improving their website and ticket payment options, which would hopefully facilitate an improvement in sales. This, however, will not take place until the repair works are complete, which, in turn, will not take place until Red Funnel know that passenger numbers will be sufficient for a sustainable business, which, in turn, would not take place until the service is reopened…
Everyone involved with Hythe Pier hopes, in the meantime, that Red Funnel will finally decide to break out of this silly cycle. If not, former passengers will become accustomed to alternative transportation methods and will not return to using the ferry if it is ever reinstated, which will be damaging to the fortunes of the pier.
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Weston Birnbeck Pier – Planning Application Submitted for Phase 2B
In the most recent planning and Listed Building Consent application, the South Tollhouse, Shell Shop and Pier View buildings will be repaired and fitted-out, paired with the repair and reinstatement of the Grade-II listed entrance gates, and a number of rather interesting works to the pier island. Of these, the most detailed is the proposed fit-out of the 1888 Boathouse into a small café. A new South-facing shopfront, replacing the existing timber frontage, will be erected alongside a single accessible W/C. With the café facilities at “deck-level”, a new staircase to the West will lead to a lower level with additional seating, and potentially remarkable views Eastwards along the length of the pier bridge (see thumbnail image).
The pavilion ruins will be stabilised but not restored at this point, here serving as a rather surreal “environment” for visitors to wander through. Emerging abruptly within the pavilion’s footprint will be a recycled shipping container, converted to toilet facilities. With the proposed demolition of the North Terrace (both unsafe and unsightly), the wrecked demolition material will be sensitively distributed (if such a thing can be done) across the pier island’s surfacing, along with old timber elements, forming physical massing to a series of proposed planting plots… perhaps like a rock garden? Anyway, it is clear that the process to regenerate Birnbeck Pier is an organically gradual process; almost beautifully so. It can be seen in early Birnbeck photographs of the 1870s that the island was nothing like as intensively developed as it was in the 1910s, for instance, and rather developed slowly. It may well be that as further funding is made available, the pavilion may be restored for use under more rigid programming.
The application should receive a decision by the beginning of February; Historic England have already returned comments supporting the proposals. These works will depend on the granting of a new National Lottery Heritage Fund for £7 million.
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Planning Page
Ramsey Queen’s Pier – Funding Boost from Anonymous Donation
The Queen’s Pier Restoration Trust have accepted donations via a Gofundme page for the last few years, and this has produced a steady trickle of funds additionally to those generated at events. A recent donation by 96-year-old Vincent Watkins, prepared following a walking tour of the Isle of Man’s lighthouses and other maritime signalling lights, has led to an anonymous donation of £9,696. This took place after a video interview with Watkins was published by Manx Radio. The Trust’s Facebook page has recently reported a successful Christmas light switch-on and carol service. “Bay 9” has also been mentioned for the first time!
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Clacton – Helter-Skelter to be Removed for Repairs
The pier’s Helter-Skelter, built 75 years ago and most recently installed at the pier shortly after Billy and Elliot Ball purchased the pier in 2009, is to be temporarily removed for comprehensive repairs. This work is anticipated to be completed by Easter 2025, and some of the work will be completed in the pier’s own workshop facilities. Several other rides will also receive comprehensive repairs and re-building over this Winter.
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Ryde Pier – A History of the Attraction
A written and pictorial account of the history of Ryde, before and after the arrival of the pier in 1814. Its expansion as a recreational attraction is also noted, foremost with its ballroom which lasted until the end of the 1960s. The pier today is almost entirely devoid of physical recreational attractions, but the promenading experience remains a reliable virtue of the pier.
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Swanage – Christmas to Invade the Pier Next Weekend
Christmas activities have been intensively programmed at Swanage Pier this year, and aside from postponements earlier in December during the national storms, these events will be continuing this weekend. Last Friday saw the switch-on event for the pier’s lights (and the arrival of Father Christmas on a Shannon-Class RNLI lifeboat), with many of these wonderful scenes pictorially reproduced on the following article. This weekend will see the arrival of reindeer, donkeys and elves… most appealing sideshows for the main event of meeting Father Christmas in his grotto! From the photographs so far published this year, and in past years, this use of the pier seems to have been a wonderful thing for Swanage and the Purbeck Coast.
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Bangor Garth Pier – Fireworks for Bangor’s 1500 years
A fireworks night on New Year’s Eve will mark, as well as the New Year, 1500 years since the founding of Bangor. This will form the start of a series of events through 2025, organised by the City of Bangor Council, relating to this important anniversary. Apparently the Council have planted 18,000 daffodils to represent each month of Bangor’s existence. As mentioned on the events listing below, the fireworks night on Bangor Pier will begin at 9:00 on New Year’s Eve.
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Harwich Ha’penny Pier – To close for 8 weeks for structural repairs
Harwich Haven Authority have inspected the pier structure and a defect has led to the pier being temporarily closed to the public. Arrangements have already been made for the repair works to take place, which will involve replacement timber piles and decking, valued at approximately £200,000. The work is expected to be completed in about eight weeks. The Deck 1853 restaurant will remain open.
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Brighton i360 – Attraction is Closed
Following previous reports of the i360 entering administration, the attraction has now been closed despite suggestions that it would remain open in the short to medium-term. All staff have been made redundant. Brighton & Hove Council will be launching an investigation over the closure and the past investment into the attraction.
Meanwhile, a foolish petition is demanding that the i360 be converted into a Wetherspoon’s pub. “Give the people what they want”, is what it frenziedly declares. Wetherspoons themselves have confirmed that it probably will not happen. To convert the structure into a good quality revolving restaurant could well be explored, but the relatively small footprint of the observation pod and the lack of a fixed service/toilet core will be problematic.
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