Pleas for people to stay away from Weston Birnbeck Pier
People are being urged to stay away from the crumbling Birnbeck Pier in North Somerset. Weston-super-Mare’s lifeboat crew rescued three people after they were cut off by the tide. It’s the fourth time they’ve had to carry out a rescue from Birnbeck Island in ten days.
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Enjoy the seaside from home with Kathryn Ferry’s new Seaside 100 book
Sandcastles, donkeys, piers and sticks of rock. Beach huts, paddle steamers, promenade shelters and ice cream cones. This book explores the best-loved features of our favourite holiday destinations, each object and building adding its own layer to the story of our shared seaside heritage. Using a mixture of historic images and modern photographs the book takes a roughly chronological journey through the things that have made our seaside special.
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Buyer found for Lowestoft Claremont Pier
Mr Scott slashed the asking price from £2.5milllion in 2018 to £1.25m in January, with the 600ft pier closed while Claremont Pier Ltd was taken into temporary liquidation. The pier remains in the hands of liquidators MHA Larking Gowen and is shut during the UK-wide coronavirus lockdown. However Jonathan Carmen, of Halesworth-based Fennel Chartered Surveyors, confirmed a buyer has now been found and that the sale is progressing “very well”.
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Compulsory purchase order for Weston Birnbeck Pier likely to go ahead this summer
Councillors will be asked to agree the move to issue the CPO to the owners of the pier when it meets in July.
A council spokesman said: “Officers have been working on the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) over the last few months with Historic England, pulling together background documents and evidence required for the CPO”.
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Clacton Pier plans NHS appreciation party for when the lockdown ends
Staff at Clacton Pier are looking to stage the event once they are able to re-open the attraction and restrictions have been lifted by the Government. The event will also include a ‘firework extravaganza’ to ensure it’s a memorable occasion. Every year the Pier’s staff arrange a weekend for the emergency services and armed forces, but they felt this time it was important to do something special for NHS workers.
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Some great photos in this extensive look-back at Southsea Clarence Pier
Some of the photos go as far back as 1860 and feature the popular funfair rides, as well as people taking a stroll along the pier. The photos show how the pier changed over the course of about 100 years, between the mid 19th and 20th centuries.
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National Piers Society calls for support for piers
The society took part in the consultation by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Hospitality and Tourism on behalf of all participating piers in the country. Tim Wardley, from the National Piers Society, said: “It is important that those on the frontline of the sector have the chance to speak up and we will continue to press the case for our piers and the tourism industry in general.”
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Clevedon Pier to run out of funds if lockdown continues
Clevedon’s historic pier could run out of cash by the autumn – if the Government lockdown continues. Bosses at Clevedon Pier and Heritage Trust, which manage the landmark, say they expect to see income drop by around £95,000 in the three months since the lockdown began. And they are warning that the pier has only enough money to cover running costs until September.
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Restoration work continues at Ramsey Queen’s Pier
Another key milestone has been reached in the restoration of a prominent landmark in Ramsey. The Queens Pier Restoration Trust says the first plank has been laid down on Bay 1 this week and stanchions and handrails are now in place there.
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As piers remain closed to visitors we look at a round-up of how some of our piers have responded to the latest government guidelines
Clacton Pier welcomes the news that the pier could reopen in July, whereas, Southend Pier will remain closed until ‘at least’ July. Cromer Pier remains closed along with beachfront car parks, and the world-famous Cromer Pier Summer Show has sadly been cancelled for this season. Whereas, Worthing Pier has reopened with strict social distancing measures for residents’ use only. At Harwich Ha’penny Pier residents are once again allowed to go boating, but visitor facilities remain closed. Southsea South Parade Pier will be serving take-away roast dinners from this weekend, but the pier remains closed.

Emergency funding from HLF provides lifeline for Clevedon Pier during lockdown
Clevedon Pier and Heritage Trust, which run the landmark, has been awarded a grant of £29,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The grant comes just days after trust bosses warned the Grade I listed pier would run out of cash by the autumn if the Government lockdown continued. The money – from the HLF’s Covid 19 Emergency Funding – will be used to cover the pier’s monthly £3,000 insurance costs for four months.
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DCMS inquiry investigates Covid impact on coastal tourism
Evidence was presented by Samantha Richardson, Director of the National Coastal Tourism Academy. The full evidence can be downloaded by clicking on the ‘read more’ link, and covers short and long-term impacts on coastal tourism alongside examples of good practice and recommendations on how coastal tourism businesses can adapt.
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Merlin Entertainments publish Covid-19 health and safety guidance
The second-biggest global entertainment and attractions provider, Merlin Entertainments, have this week published health and safety guidance for when their attractions reopen. As the attractions sector awaits government guidance, the Merlin document provides a useful insight on what our seaside piers may plan for.
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As piers remain closed to visitors we look at a round-up of how some of our piers have responded to the latest government guidelines
Southsea South Parade Pier remains closed, but the Deep Blue restaurant has now re-opened for limited hours for take-away service only. While Southend Pier remains closed, the promenade has been widened to accommodate social distancing measures. Great Yarmouth’s piers are scenario planning while awaiting further guidance and timelines from the government for reopening. Clacton Pier remains closed, but the Candy Kiosk at the front of the pier has opened for take-away snacks.

Seagull mural unveiled at Brighton Palace Pier
The 25 metre long, ten metre high design on Brighton Palace Pier shows two seagulls with human bodies in striped blue and white deckchairs, laughing and holding hands. It is visible from several miles away. Artist Cosmo Sarson, known for his 20ft-high work The Angel of Brighton in North Laine, was commissioned to paint the mural next to the helter skelter at the far end of the pier.
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Hythe Pier and ferry funding campaign doubles its target
A fundraising appeal launched to keep a Hampshire ferry service afloat has raised more than £12,000 – far exceeding its original target. Some of the money raised by the campaign will go towards the cost of repairing Hythe Pier and the electric train which takes passengers to and from the ferry.
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As piers remain closed to visitors we look at a round-up of how some of our piers have responded to the latest government guidelines
Weston Grand Pier remains closed and has no plans to reopen in the immediate future. Some outlets are open on Bournemouth Pier for take-away only, although BCP Council were warning that beaches and car parks have reached capacity during the bank holiday weekend. Boscombe and Bournemouth Piers are scheduled to reopen for walking on 31st May. At Mumbles Pier Copperfish and the Beach Hut Cafe are open for take-away and collection service, but the rest of the pier remains closed.

Folkestone Harbour Arm reopens with ‘buy as you leave’ restrictions
The recently-renovated walkway closed at the beginning of April following the outbreak of the coronavirus. But now, following the loosening of some lockdown restrictions, it will re-open to those who want a walk and get some fresh air. Two food outlets will also be open for takeaways – Bobbies Bakehouse and the Harbour Coffee Co.
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Brighton Palace Pier hopes to reopen in July
Anne Ackord, chief executive of The Brighton Pier Group, expects it will be allowed to get back up and running when the Government’s third phase of easing restrictions comes into play. She said that if the infection rate of the virus comes down to levels needed, the pier’s rides and arcades could reopen then too.
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