Poll

What should be done with Colwyn Bay Pier?

Demolish it
Carry out basic renovation (spend up to £5m)
Carry out comprehensive renovation, including all buildings (spend up to £10m)

Author Topic: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier  (Read 386039 times)

0 Members and 4 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline Merddin Emrys

  • Ad Free Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4426
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #420 on: May 22, 2013, 06:48:07 am »
I couldn't see his car on the Pier!!!!!

I was told on Saturday that it is a Jaguar car, just behind one of the doors and sadly covered in droppings. Not a good end for a Jaguar!
A pigeon is for life not just Christmas

Offline viv

  • Member
  • Posts: 117
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #421 on: May 22, 2013, 08:22:30 pm »
Hope he's done a SORN ! He can always sell it to pay the court costs.


Offline BMD

  • Member
  • Posts: 286
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #422 on: May 23, 2013, 11:23:44 am »
Incidentally, there are interesting parallels between Hastings & Colwyn Bay piers. Both have troubled pasts in terms of ownership disputes, lack of council support, lack of insurance, etc: http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/8433906.Was_Hastings_Pier_insured_/

Most of Hastings pier (95% of structure) was damaged by fire. It's in a worse state that Colwyn Bay pier. Neverthelesss, £11.4 million in lottery funding has been awarded towards the £13.9 million total cost of rebuilding work: http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/10325768.Repairs_for_damaged_Sussex_pier_are_on_their_way/

There are only 58 surviving Victorian piers. They are iconic structures which form part of a town's identity. Any serious long-term view would wish to preserve them, as a priority.

Offline Bri Roberts

  • Management board member
  • *
  • Posts: 3099
Colwyn Bay Pier lottery grant boosts restoration plans
« Reply #423 on: May 24, 2013, 07:40:54 am »
Plans to restore a Grade II listed pier in north Wales have been boosted with a heritage lottery grant of nearly £600,000.

The money will be used by Conwy council to develop plans to restore Victoria Pier in Colwyn Bay to its former glory.

It is part of a wider £56m regeneration scheme in the town.

Ownership of the pier has been in dispute with a former owner fighting to get it back from the council.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant announced on Friday will be used to develop plans including a restoration of the pier's Art Deco pavilion.

“The pier not only sits in the heart of Colwyn Bay but also holds a prominent position in the resort's history and that of Welsh seaside architecture”

In its heyday the pavilion hosted performances ranging from comedians Morecambe and Wise and Harry Secombe to musician Elvis Costello.

Community support

It has been closed to the public since 2008 and is described as being in a "critical condition".
Manon Williams, chair of HLF in Wales, said: "The pier not only sits in the heart of Colwyn Bay but also holds a prominent position in the resort's history and that of Welsh seaside architecture.

"The project, which is integral to the regeneration of Colwyn Bay, has strong support from the community with significant opportunities for job creation, training and volunteering and would provide a significant boost for the local economy."

The grant of £594,900 will also allow the council to apply for more funding from HLF in order to bid for the full award of £4,379,600 to complete the scheme.

Councillor Mike Priestley, chair of the Pier Project Board, said the support of HLF was a "major step forward for the future of the pier and the potential it has to contribute to the regeneration of Colwyn Bay waterfront and the wider community".

If the second round of grant applications is successful Conwy council plans to hand over the management of the restored pier to a community company called Colwyn Bay Shore Thing Ltd.

It is hoped that project will then attract a team of 100 volunteers to take part in the management of the pier.

Earlier this month former pier owner Steve Hunt claimed a legal victory after a high court judge ruled that part of a court case brought by him must be heard again before ownership can be settled.

At the time Conwy council, which signed a deal to buy the pier in 2012, said it was pleased that other parts of his claims were rejected.

Mr Hunt previously owned the pier but was made bankrupt in 2008.

It followed a dispute over £5,144.88 in unpaid council tax and business rates.

Offline BMD

  • Member
  • Posts: 286
Re: Colwyn Bay Pier lottery grant boosts restoration plans
« Reply #424 on: May 24, 2013, 11:21:16 am »
Plans to restore a Grade II listed pier in north Wales have been boosted with a heritage lottery grant of nearly £600,000.

The money will be used by Conwy council to develop plans to restore Victoria Pier in Colwyn Bay to its former glory.

Great news. To quote the Heritage Lottery Fund's chairperson (for Wales):

"The pier not only sits in the heart of Colwyn Bay but also holds a prominent position in the resort's history and that of Welsh seaside architecture. The project, which is integral to the regeneration of Colwyn Bay, has strong support from the community with significant opportunities for job creation, training and volunteering and would provide a significant boost for the local economy."

That's basically the go-ahead. The second stage is to submit detailed plans for the remainder of the £5 million grant.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/13658-pier-restoration-fund-given-lottery-boost.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-22644808

Offline BMD

  • Member
  • Posts: 286
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #425 on: May 24, 2013, 12:12:57 pm »
Btw, the Victoria Pier Pressure Group updates its Twitter account more frequently than its website, so I recommend following them (if you use Twitter at all): https://twitter.com/VictoriaPierPG


Offline Fester

  • Ad Free Member.
  • *
  • Posts: 6660
  • El Baldito
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #427 on: May 28, 2013, 11:44:35 pm »
Here's a little tongue-twister for you to practise.
The faster you go, the more points I shall award.

OLD MRS HUNT HAD A ROUGH-CUT PUNT,
NOT A PUNT CUT ROUGH,
BUT A ROUGH CUT PUNT.

Go for it!



Fester...
- Semper in Excretum, Sole Profundum Variat -

Offline DaveR

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 13712
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #428 on: June 28, 2013, 08:29:22 am »
Inside of former Bar area on Pier, courtesy of Victoria Pier Pressure Group. Fantastic views!

https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaPierPressureGroup

Offline hollins

  • Management board member
  • *
  • Posts: 3411
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #429 on: June 28, 2013, 09:40:30 am »
If only.....
If only there were places to sit and have a drink and/or a meal with a view like that in the area.
It is so sad that such a chance has been missed at Porth Eirias.
I am sure I am not alone in craving a view of the sea when I visit a seaside place for a meal and a drink. It is what going to the seaside is all about.
In Llandudno there are only really the hotels to frequent but even then the view is spoilt by the road.
 :(

Offline Merddin Emrys

  • Ad Free Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4426
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #430 on: August 15, 2013, 07:37:54 am »
Good news for Hastings Pier, lets have the same here please!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-23699453
A pigeon is for life not just Christmas

Offline Ian

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 8949
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #431 on: August 15, 2013, 07:45:53 am »
Quote
I am sure I am not alone in craving a view of the sea when I visit a seaside place for a meal and a drink. It is what going to the seaside is all about.

Absolutely. Platform 3, in Colwyn Bay, was a brave attempt to do that, too; for a while you could have a drink or nibbles sitting in front of big windows that overlooked the p[ier and prom.
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline BMD

  • Member
  • Posts: 286
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #432 on: September 04, 2013, 03:21:09 pm »
Another grant awarded to funding the development phase of the pier (£20,000 - this time from the council):

“With the commitment from both county and town council, together with Shore Thing and Victoria Pier Pressure Group, the future of the pier has never looked brighter.”

http://www.newsnorthwales.co.uk/news/126162/bay-town-council-votes-to-support-pier-with-20-000-grant.aspx

Offline DaveR

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 13712
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #433 on: September 06, 2013, 08:30:41 am »
I find it a bit disturbing that forecast costs for the Pier renovation are spiralling out of control. Initially, a figure of around £5m was mentioned for refurbishment of the structure and buildings, this has now increased to '£12-15m' - how can it have trebled in little more than a year?

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/council-approves-20000-grant-assess-5843487

The article has a great aerial photo of the Pier in its present state:

Offline Ian

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 8949
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #434 on: September 06, 2013, 08:48:36 am »
Quote
Initially, a figure of around £5m was mentioned for refurbishment of the structure and buildings, this has now increased to '£12-15m' - how can it have trebled in little more than a year?

Obviously they're using the approved Government estimation calculator. You know, 'Think of a number, double it, add 5,000,000..."
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.