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 385910 times)

0 Members and 5 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline Fester

  • Ad Free Member.
  • *
  • Posts: 6660
  • El Baldito
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #285 on: September 05, 2011, 10:51:40 pm »
See this article... no further need to paint the Forth Bridge!  The job is over...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-14789036

This will free up some manpower to start on Colwyn Bay Pier .... even Llandudno Pier could do with some touching up!
Fester...
- Semper in Excretum, Sole Profundum Variat -

Offline dwsi

  • Member
  • Posts: 713
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #286 on: September 13, 2011, 12:25:33 am »
Colwyn Bay’s Victoria Pier may soon be bought - Daily Post North Wales http://bit.ly/n1HHi5


Offline DaveR

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 13712
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #287 on: September 13, 2011, 08:16:31 am »
The saga rolls on and on....

Offline Fester

  • Ad Free Member.
  • *
  • Posts: 6660
  • El Baldito
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #288 on: September 13, 2011, 10:07:40 am »
Well, at least the issue is being discussed, and possibly progressed.
I feared that it would be ignored now for quite some time to come.
Fester...
- Semper in Excretum, Sole Profundum Variat -

Offline DaveR

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 13712
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #289 on: September 14, 2011, 09:09:54 am »
COUNCIL chiefs yesterday repeated their wish to buy Colwyn Bay pier but warned its ownership status must be clarified first.

Conwy County Borough Council’s Cabinet met at Bodlondeb to agree to authorise senior officials to take steps to look into the Victoria Pier’s future.

Cllr Glyn Jones told members: “Vacant possession is the key and there should be a sustainable business plan by campaign group) Shore Thing.”

Conwy’s acting corporate director Iwan Davies said that in June the council and the Cabinet were “clear” that the authority would only acquire the pier with vacant possession.

He added: “But equally it was clear that the business plan would not necessarily be completed before we take possession. The business plan is still being worked on. It will be a key component of any funding application we make.”


http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2011/09/14/conwy-council-wants-clarity-before-it-buys-colwyn-bay-s-victoria-pier-55578-29416861/

Offline DaveR

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 13712
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #290 on: September 24, 2011, 06:14:57 pm »
A sad state of affairs...


Dangerous Structure by davidrobertsphotography, on Flickr

Offline SCMP

  • Member
  • Posts: 34
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #291 on: October 27, 2011, 02:51:40 pm »
Shore Thing and Victoria Pier Pressure Group

Victoria Pier Public Consultation

01-02 November 2011 09.30-17.00

Bay View Shopping centre, Colwyn Bay

This is what the group have been doing whilst the legal battle continues, nothing short of staying positive!

SCMP

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/295752_10150337891917721_649752720_845

Offline DaveR

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 13712
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #292 on: October 27, 2011, 05:34:16 pm »
I shall try and pop along.

Offline DaveR

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 13712
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #293 on: November 01, 2011, 02:05:48 pm »
Views are being sought on multi-million pound plans for the redevelopment of Colwyn Bay's historic pier.

The consultation is part of the process a not-for-profit group, Shore Thing, must go through prior to submitting a bid for grant aid from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The proposals include a restaurant, revamped pavilion theatre and shops.

However, the issue of who owns Victoria Pier has yet to be resolved. It has been closed since its former owner was made bankrupt in July 2008.

The pier then came under the control of a trustee in bankruptcy, who has since given up any interest in the Grade II-listed landmark. It has now passed to the Crown Estate. People or groups with an interest in acquiring the pier can submit their bid to the Crown Estate's solicitors.

The former owner, Steve Hunt, said in August that he believed the pier should now come back to him.

But Conwy council has formally tabled its interest in the pier and is supporting the proposals by the volunteer directors behind Shore Thing. They are putting the plans on show at the Bay View Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday as well as hosting other events with possible stakeholders.

Chair Jay Martin said the proposals include a panoramic restaurant with views over the bay above a revamped pavilion theatre as well as a glass walkway revealing the pier's architecture.


Other plans include a dozen retail units at the front of the pier for use by other businesses and an education and history centre.

Victoria Pier was opened in June 1900, and over the years has hosted performances from artists as diverse as Morecambe and Wise, Harry Secombe and Elvis Costello.

Mr Martin said now was the time to upgrade the pier as redevelopment of the seafront was under way as part of an £8m coastal defence improvement project.

"This work has given a fresh impetus so now is the time to do it," said Mr Martin.

"The majority want to see something done with the pier."

Shore Thing's business case is being drawn up by tourism and heritage consultants.

They were commissioned after the community enterprise group secured £35,000 in funding from RWE NPower Renewables and Colwyn Bay Town Council which contributed £5,000 towards the total.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-15526893

Offline Dave

  • Member
  • Posts: 863
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #294 on: January 16, 2012, 06:58:26 pm »
The Pier may need to be classified a Local Nature Reserve at this rate!

Judging by the number of Starlings roosting there, you may well be right !
Spectacular show this evening, it wasn't until I processed the picture I saw what had encouraged them all to fly !

There is a Peregrine Falcon attack in progress !

Offline Blodyn

  • Member
  • Posts: 735
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #295 on: January 16, 2012, 07:28:29 pm »
What a fantastic picture, Dave. 

Offline Dave

  • Member
  • Posts: 863
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #296 on: January 16, 2012, 07:50:03 pm »
What a fantastic picture, Dave.
Thanks  !

Offline DaveR

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 13712
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #297 on: January 21, 2012, 05:01:17 pm »
Ye gods, will this man just not disappear?  $angry$

Steven Hunt's court bid to own Colwyn Bay Pier again is adjourned


A CLAIM that ownership of Colwyn Bay's derelict pier should be vested again in former owner Steven Hunt, 40, was adjourned yesterday.

Mr Hunt was told by Judge Owen Wheldon Williams at Caernarfon county court that he will need to produce a skeleton legal argument.

A decision may be made then. Conwy County Council wants to buy the pier on the basis that it is now owned by the Crown and hand it to a trust to renovate it using grants.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2012/01/21/steven-hunt-s-court-bid-to-own-colwyn-bay-pier-again-is-adjourned-55578-30167930/

Offline Fester

  • Ad Free Member.
  • *
  • Posts: 6660
  • El Baldito
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #298 on: January 21, 2012, 09:32:12 pm »
The crucial thing here, to my mind is that Steve Hunt has failed to demonstrate any kind of business plan to renovate it even if he did regain ownership of the pier.

If it was proven that his property was taken from him under false pretences, I could even have some sympathy with Mr Hunt, but only if he was pushing hard to revitalize the structure.

This Pier, in fact ALL piers are national treasures... and must never be left in the private ownership of individuals who do not have the resources to sustain them.
Fester...
- Semper in Excretum, Sole Profundum Variat -

Offline DaveR

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 13712
Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #299 on: January 21, 2012, 09:37:19 pm »
That's quite correct. When he had the Pier, Mr Hunt wasted his time building a christmas tree out of scaffolding (still visible at the end of the pier today), whilst the girders underneath rotted away.