Hastings Pier – Safety Concerns towards Pier’s Event Management
Concerns have been raised by the South East Coast Ambulance Trust towards the safety protocols maintained on the pier during large public events. Following reports of unacceptably inadequate medical provisions during such events, other members of the local Safety Advisory Group have since raised further concerns towards the pier’s protocols during emergency situations. The Council’s Licencing department are intending to impose stricter conditions on the operation of the pier, whilst recommending changes to the management of the company involved. It appears from these reports that these affairs relate to the company subcontracted to manage the pier’s events and have no relation to Lions Hastings Pier Ltd (as directed by Sheikh Abid Gulzar)
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Bournemouth Pier – There is a Screen!
In a development which will particularly excite consultants in the advertising and media sectors, less so the public, a very large and bright LED display has recently been erected on the shore-facing gable of the former Pier Theatre. Both still advertisement layouts and moving videos will be beamed out to visitors and a number of advertisers can apply for “screen time” on the Pier’s website. It is described in the attached article as Bournemouth’s answer to Piccadilly Circus or Times Square. This will likely prove to be a financial success for the pier, with its placement being prominently visible from the pier deck, beach and from the tops of the cliffs. It might be construed to the average visitor, however, as a sad reminder that one cannot escape the enslaving “screen” (and the consumerism it promotes) wherever they go! That said, Lytham Pier (closed 1938; see the header photograph) can be seen to be rife with advertisements in photographs from the early 20th Century, so perhaps it is not a completely new phenomenon…
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Ryde – A Beer Festival on the Pier
Wightlink, the transport operators for the Isle of Wight’s ferries and railway network, are organising events on the head of Ryde Pier this coming weekend. A number of Wightish microbreweries will be spread over the pier head, with various foods available and live music in progress. Public events on the head of the pier, which is usually utilised solely as a transportation terminal car park, are seemingly hard to come by, so this may well be something special.
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Hythe Pier – A Fundraising Attempt by a Friend of the Pier
An 89-year-old great-grandmother is intending to walk 90 lengths of Hythe Pier to raise funds for both the Hythe Pier Heritage Association and the Hythe Men’s Shed. This undertaking would consist of 36 miles of walking. Whether or not it turns out to be achievable in full, it is still a commendable action and so far well in excess of the £900 target has been raised. The Heritage Association continues to work on the restoration of various parts of the pier, whilst the Men’s Shed is also directly involved in the pier’s work, being situated just opposite the pier’s entrance.
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Rochester Pier to Re-open
There is, such as it happens, a pier in Rochester. The “Sun Pier” in the neighbouring town of Chatham is slightly better-known to pier enthusiasts (and, indeed, more pier-like), but Rochester’s Pier is due to come back to the fore of a Rochester visitor’s observations. The structure has 19th-Century origins and the main pier span (a mere c.18 metres) appears to utilise lattice beams of wrought iron. The rest of the pier is a stretching line of floating pontoon, made into its present form in the 1990s. After a period of ruination (with one of the linkspans detaching from its bearing and sinking into the Medway), Medway Council are due to re-open the pier to visitors imminently. Some of the basic restoration work has been completed by the Friends of Rochester Churchfields and Esplanade.
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Eastbourne Pier – The Waverley’s Landing
The much-awaited calling of M.V Waverley took place last Thursday and the pier deck was correspondingly packed throughout. Many spectators arrived alongside passengers to enjoy the spectacle, including a number of local politicians. Many spectators’ comments are reproduced in the detailed account by Sussex World, all highly respecting the importance of the Waverley’s heritage. This day has indeed been an exciting one for Eastbourne generally, and especially positive for Eastbourne Pier. Its involvement in making the Waverley’s landing possible ought to generate much respect.
Meanwhile, there are ongoing campaigns for the pier to revoke its ban on dogs. A petition has been set up and, at time of writing, is two signatures away from its notional target.
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Dogs
Weston Grand Pier – “Bucket and Spade Award” Winner
In the Bucket and Spade Awards 2024, organised by the Seaside Heritage Network, it has been revealed in a ceremony held in the Plaza Cinema, Weston-Super-Mare, that The Grand Pier has won third prize for the top UK seaside attraction. This ceremony took place on the Seaside Heritage Network’s “Big Day Out” in Weston, as previously advertised in the upcoming news section of this newsletter. With the awards being determined by public votes, this shows the overall popularity and glowing reputation the pier has earned from visitors.
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Brighton West Pier – An Art Exhibition
The Brighton West Pier Trust has organised an art and photography exhibition, which will be displayed at their base at the King’s Road Arches until April. A preview of the exhibition items is visible in the gallery at the head of the linked article; as with most exhibitions, the items are interestingly varied. The article also highlights the popularity with the pier’s remains with visitors; in particular the almost reflexive action of photographing it upon first sight; indicating that Brighton would very much not be the same without it.
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Harwich Ha’penny Pier – Pizza on the Pier
A taster as to the culinary offerings of the recently-opened “Deck 1853” restaurant on the pier deck. Amongst other offerings during the day, the enterprise offers event bookings for “pizza parties”, which are sure to be popular events during the evening. As expected, there is open seating inside and outside during the day, in addition to a take-away kiosk.
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Ramsey Queen’s Pier – More Construction Progress
As the regular Facebook posts from the Queen’s Pier Restoration Trust highlight, ongoing restoration work continues rapidly and the re-decking of Bay 7 is nearing completion. As with the best of pier construction projects, dual-uses are deployed where practical; in this case, the luggage cart and associated rails have provided much assistance in conveying the decking boards from the compound to the relevant bay.
Meanwhile, the diesel locomotive is temporarily out of action due to a mechanical fault. A replacement part is on order and is expected to be rectified shortly, but any immediate visitors ought to take note to avoid disappointment!
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Weston Birnbeck – Planning Submitted for Structural Repairs
A new series of planning applications have been submitted regarding Birnbeck Pier, this time by the RNLI, for the comprehensive restoration of the main pier structure. That is to say, the repair of the cast-iron trestle structure that constitutes the “pier bridge”, with entirely new bracing, girders, decking structure and pier furniture. Arguably this is the most time-critical element of the restoration project, with the existing pier bridge being in a highly unstable condition. This work does not involve structures on the pier island, nor the North Jetty; it instead has a clear focus on the most critical and vulnerable element of the pier. The original semi-circular cantilevering projections along the pier deck will be reinstated, each fitted with a lighting column. It has also been decided that the existing cast-iron seating backs and supports are in an unfit state for reuse and will be replaced with matching components in a combination of cast iron and steel.
For clarity, this application differs from the previous set proposed by North Somerset Council, which proposed works to the foreshore and abutments, restoration and conversion of the shoreward buildings and the emergency stabilisation of the pier-head buildings. Further applications for the actual regeneration of these buildings, including the development of a new RNLI lifeboat station, will be made at a later stage. A link to the current planning application (with a secondary application for Listed Building Consent under reference 24/P/1908/LBC) is provided. The Design and Access Statement gives a comprehensive and well-illustrated summary of the proposed works.
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Planning Application Page
Southport – A Short Planning Update
It has been reported that a new application concerning the decking of Southport Pier has recently been approved within 24 hours of it being made. This specifically relates to the approval of details required by condition in a previous application, which was approved in 2022 for the replacement of the Ekki decking boards and the permanent removal of the redundant tram tracks. That Sefton Council have chosen now to have these details (specifically of the arrangement and dimensions of the proposed decking) approved suggests that they hope that some preliminary work towards the pier’s restoration may take place shortly. The 2022 permission would normally expire in August 2025, so it is presumably the hope that decking removal will start before then. All other necessary repairs to the steel structure beneath, however, will require a separate planning application to be made.
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Hythe Pier Fundraising – A Success
As reported several weeks ago, fundraiser Margaret Blake’s attempt to walk 90 lengths of Hythe Pier took place last weekend, two days before her 90th birthday. At an anticipated 35 miles, and despite various leg problems, her family were delighted to report that the entire distance was successfully covered and that £2000 was raised for the Hythe Pier Heritage Association and the Hythe Men’s Shed. It is also reported in the article that the Hythe Ferry is temporarily suspended due to maintenance issues with the pontoon, which will hopefully be addressed within the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the Hythe Pier Heritage Trust have taken advantage of the reduced footfall by undertaking repairs to the roof of the pier head buildings and to the shoreward platform – as illustrated on the association’s Facebook page.
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Bournemouth Pier – Repair Works Anticipated for 2025
The deteriorating condition of the pier’s landing stage, which has now been closed for several years, has recently led to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council devoting to its eventual repair. £9.5 million has been awarded for the pier repairs from the Government’s Levelling Up fund, and subject to the necessary permissions being granted, it is hoped that repair works might commence in early 2025. It is unclear at this stage what the programme of works will involve; given the above funding amount, the works may well extend to completing repairs to the pier neck and head substructures as well as the landing stage.
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Aberystwyth Pier – Proposal for Seaward-End Pergoda
The short seaward end of Aberystwyth Pier is a popular observation point across the coastline of the resort, and is expected to be made more versatile and adaptable in the presently-proposed work. This will involve the erection of a lightweight enclosed structure of aluminium and glass, extending to about halfway along the remaining open-air deck. The general effect may well be comparable to the “Tiffany’s Suite” at the end of Weston Grand Pier, although some might lament the loss of of part of the open-air deck space and the serenity that it entails.
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Kilcreggan Pier – Conservation of Original Pier Plans Completed
£400 was raised for the conservation of Kilcreggan’s construction drawings, dated 1850. The structure which resulted was was replaced in 1897. The work to the document has seen the staining removed and presumably strengthened with backing paper; of course, some missing paper cannot be reproduced. A number of photographic copies were offered as part of a adoption fundraising scheme, and one such copy will soon be fitting inside the existing pier head shelter.
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Mumbles Pier – An Update From Owners
A detailed update has been published by Ameco, owners of the pier, following the fire in the amusement arcade. This part of the building still remains closed owing to the severity of the fire, whilst The Copperfish Restaurant will remain open with expanded operations to compensate. A temporary amusements setup is also imminently planned.
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Gravesend Town Pier – “Pop-up” Functions
The previously-underutilised enclosed rooms along Gravesend’s Pier are to be temporarily used as a pop-up cafe, events and exhibition space, largely coinciding with the visits of the Waverley. These events will continue until the 20th October and may well act as a pilot project for how these interior spaces may well be used in the future. Pictured is a jolly drawing from architects Thomas Ford & Partners, presumably representing the proposals for the 2000-2002 restoration of the pier and introduction of a restaurant facility. On the header image is the scene I saw in 2020, and Google Street View confirms that this had not changed two years later.
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Brighton Palace Pier – Financial Downturn Following Poor Weather
Brighton Palace Pier, such is the scale of its operations, seems to be a case of interest to financial analysts and investors. Numerous articles such as this one have been published in the past but their corporate dryness (thus, the ridiculous stock image) has generally prevented their reproduction in the newsletter! In this event, shares fell by 13% owing to reduced revenue – all the result of the unseemly weather suffered since the start of the year (April, presumably?). Management responded, rather coldly, with plans for “disciplined cost management”. Investigations into reducing the pier’s reliance on good weather will also take place, which would probably entail improving the canopy structures or extending the indoor amusements.
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Hastings Pier – Notes on the 1917 Fire
Author Steve Peak gives extracts from his 2016 book “A Pier without Peer”, relating to the loss of the original 1872 pavilion in 1917. Several good photographs are provided, showing the extremities of the pavilion’s “Hindoo” style. It was replaced by the often-criticised “Barn” pavilion in 1922, which was dressed up quite successfully in the Art Deco style in 1936.
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