Earlier in the year, at a meeting with me, Amber Rudd, Friends of Hastings Pier, and council officers, Mr Gulzar (the owner of Hastings Pier) promised to open the pier by the end of March.
However, he later announced that it wouldn’t open until May Bank Holiday weekend, because of storm damage. I
put out a press release expressing what could best be described as ‘extreme disappointment’ (as did Amber Rudd).
Mr Gulzar then announced that the pier would open in time for Easter, which was later brought forward again to April 1st.
Council building control officers have met Mr Gulzar’s team to look at the storm damage, and have advised him to put in place warning signs about walking under the pier, as he had put information on his own website stating that bits were falling off underneath the pier.
Building Control officers have seen a structural survey report carried out on the pier, and details of repairs taking place to deal with earlier storm damage, and have determined that the pier is safe to open to the public.
And the pier did indeed re-open on April 1st , in that the gates were opened for public access, although none of the cafes, kiosks or other facilities was open. I understand these will be re-opening soon, with the café opening by the coming weekend. This is good news, and it was great to see the pier
open again.
Soft Opening 27th April 2016
I will be encouraging Mr Gulzar to talk to the council about his longer-term plans for the pier, to ensure that he works closely with the council on any proposed alterations in advance, to make sure that valid planning applications and listed building consent applications are submitted, and to reach out more to his critics and involve the local community in the future of the pier.
Over £14m of public money was spent on the acquisition and restoration of Hastings Pier, by Heritage Lottery Fund, Hastings Council, and 3 voluntary public donations. It’s understandable that members of the public in Hastings still want to have a say in its future.
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