On the grab!

On the move………

But it’s not all about the Jack up Barge

Changing fast! The ballroom silhouette (as at Monday 22.9.2014

This is amazing - and will soon be history!

The Light Show

Getting there - Another pier project work in progress!

Jack Up Barge proceeding fast up the Channel

Best laid plans of mice & men…….

….oft gang awry – but not, we hope, in this case!

The Jack up barge should now be arriving this Thursday evening, it was delayed as there was an electrical issue with the crane.

Jack- up barge operations

The anticipated programme of work is as follows

DEMOLITION

• · On the East side of the ballroom, demolition of high level structures by Best demolition. This will be from two man ‘cage’ suspended from the crane over the structure.
• · Further demolition of loose structures in the area.
• · After approximately 4 days, the barge will re-locate to the West side.
• · It will then continue removing the high level structures to make the whole area safe.
• · When the area is safe, the crane will  be used to pick up the steelwork that collapsed on to the sea bed in the February storm.  The steel will be lifted up on to the Pier where it will be cut to manageable lengths and taken back to the promenade and off the Pier.
• · This will take a further 4 days.

STORM DAMAGE REPAIRS

• · With safe access now possible, the reconstruction of the storm damaged section of the Pier Head can be carried out.
• · There are 7 columns which need to be replaced/ repaired .
• · There is then a lot of new bracing and tie rods to install to hold the new columns in place.
• · This whole operation should take 7 to 10 days

PILING

• · When the work at the Pier Head is completed, the barge will move to the centre of the Pier on the West side, in the area of the new Visitor Centre.
• · There are six piles to be installed.  These are steel tubes which are driven in to the bed by a hammer suspended from the crane.
• · The 3 piles on the west will be completed and the barge will then move around the Pier to the East
• · The further three piles will then be installed.
• · The whole piling operation should only take 3 days.
• During the demolition phase, there will be 24 hour working.  For the other phases it is planned to work a single 12 hour shift.
• The total duration for the barge to be here is  25 days, barring unforeseen circumstances.
  

Please Note - This is the plan but there are many things that could happen to change this.

Coming soon – to a pier near you!

The 120 tonne crane prepares to crawl onto the Jack Up Barge. The barge leg extensions will be added by the crane when it’s on board.

Construction Update

Replacement steelwork and new decking is now substantially completed to the Parade Extension.

The concentration is now on the central spine along the Pier to provide access to the Pier Head.

Work on the Old Pavilion building has started to transform it into a restaurant.   50 new supporting deck beams have been inserted beneath the building.  The building has been stripped out and the internal partitions removed.  Work will now start on replacing the floor structure and altering the outside walls. The roof structure has been exposed and looks to be in a reasonable condition, particularly as it is about 100 years old.  The main roof and the two cupolas will be recovered, probably with zinc.

Pier[?] to Pier

St Leonards Pier to Hastings Pier - 13 took part in the Pier to Pier swim early on Thursday morning last week.

Finances!

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is providing the lion’s share of the grant funding needed to reinvigorate the pier – roughly £11.4 million – and one of the key tasks  to perform is to submit a monthly claim against that grant.  This involves providing details of all the expenditure incurred to date.

As far as construction costs are concerned, the quantity surveyor provides a monthly assessment of the rate of progress on each of the contracts for work on the pier.  The progress is then valued and the contractor is asked to provide an invoice equal to the valuation.

When each invoice is received it is entered into the accounting system and becomes ‘eligible expenditure’ for grant purposes.  Typically the construction industry operates on a 28 day credit cycle, this means that payment for an invoice isn’t due until 28 days after the date of the valuation.

Managing the timing of submission of  HLF claims and  VAT returns ensures that cash flows are not adversely affected by payments to contractors and thus maintains a steady flow of cash into the coffers to meet ongoing commitments.

Opportunity to run the Pier Restaurant…………..

HPC is now seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified operators who would like to tender for the opportunity to partner with Hastings Pier Charity to provide the food and beverage operations on the Pier.

Further information will be supplied to the selected list of operators for tender. Expressions of interest, together with a relevant credentials pitch should be sent to Andy Davies onAndyRDavies@outlook.com

More information at http://www.hpcharity.co.uk/opportunities/food-beverage-opportunities/

A Golden Glow

Turns to Blue within five minutes….

How good is this! Refurbished and reinstalled!

Music on the Pier–History with Andre Martin

Have I the right…..
Come right back!

I remember this….. (alas, not on the pier, far away in Tasmania)

The Honeycombs – Hastings Pier 29th August 1964 by Andre Martin

Newsletter - September 2014

Click here

From the Newsletter:

Forthcoming events for adults
We have a variety of events coming up in September for young and old alike.

As part of Heritage Open Days we have a Walk & Talk on Thursday 11th and repeated on Friday 12th September, both 6pm - 7pm.

As this is the centenary year of the outbreak of World War 1 we'll take a look at the history of the pier in the pre-war period and during the war itself! Then our construction team will transport you 100 years forward for a walk to the pier and an update on  the construction work taking place.

The evening is free but please pre-book by emailing us or phoning 01424 435587.
 
Forthcoming events for families
On Saturday 13th September we have two events happening.

In the Hub drop in to our Mask making workshop from 11am - 3pm and make a sea inspired mask which you can wear along to the Seafood and Wine Festival the following weekend.

Out on the promenade, in front of the pier, we'll be having the first of our 'Science on Sea' shows. Stop by during the day to take a ‘pier’ into the science and engineering behind the reconstruction of the pier with our science supremo Brad Gross.

He'll be there from 11am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 3pm looking for people to help with his experiments and answer your questions.

Both events are free thanks to funding from the HLF and Castle Ward Community First funding respectively so just drop in.

The Chancellor, George Osborne, visits the town ……….

“…..Mr Osborne was asked the question that has been on most people’s lips in Hastings in recent weeks: “Why did the Chancellor and Prime Minister David Cameron visit Eastbourne just days after its devastating pier fire and pledge £2 million in support when Hastings got nothing just days after the blaze on its pier in October 2010?”

In response, he said: “Hastings Pier had been closed since 2006 but it’s opening again next year, which is great news. Hastings has had almost £2 million from the Coastal Communities Fund. I am speaking with MP Amber Rudd and local businesses to see if there is more things we can do to support tourism and specific projects and if there is I am really happy to look at them.
http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/chancellor-visit-to-new-centre-1-6268891

“I want both towns to do well. It’s not about choosing between Eastbourne and Hastings.”