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 386975 times)

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Offline Gaylord Screwsby

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #375 on: August 19, 2012, 06:27:31 pm »
But it also serves as a warning that enacting CPOs is certainly not the easy option many seem to think it is.

This wasn't a CPO though rather a dispute following Mr Hunt's bankruptcy.

Hey Gaylord!   Nice to see you finally got around to posting.... keep 'em coming!  $good$

Sorry for the delay. Was really good to meet you Fester, only last December!!

Offline DaveR

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #376 on: September 12, 2012, 09:44:46 am »
A COUNCIL yesterday voted to insist a businessman pays its legal costs over a pier ownership court battle.

Steve Hunt had taken his bid to validate his ownership claim of Colwyn Bay’s Victoria Pier to Cardiff County Court last month.

But he lost the case and a judge ordered him to pay Conwy County Council’s costs, which are still to be calculated.

Yesterday Conwy’s Cabinet voted to press ahead with enforcing that costs order.

However, there is an outstanding claim by Mr Hunt’s mother Gloria, which will be fully heard in the county court in October or November.

At the Cabinet meeting, the Cabinet member for communities Cllr Phil Edwards, a former police officer, told members: “The legal process has not been completed and because (of that) it is not open for discussion.”

In separate proceedings earlier this year, Mr Hunt failed in his bid to challenge Conwy’s auditors KPMG, following their audit of the accounts for the year 2010/2011.

An officer’s report to the Cabinet states that a costs order was made against Mr Hunt then too in the sum of £12,000 but that the sum remains unpaid. As the council have to reimburse KPMG for any costs relating to objection of the accounts (as these are not covered in KPMG’s annual fee), the council will have to pay the £12,000 to KPMG, according to the officer’s report.

Officers will chase Mr Hunt for the two outstanding costs from the KPMG case and August 17 case “with all reasonable means”, says the report.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2012/09/12/colwyn-bay-pier-owner-told-to-pay-legal-costs-over-court-battle-55578-31816208/


Offline DaveR

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #377 on: November 06, 2012, 09:35:08 pm »
Goodbye Steve Hunt....

    
Location: | press releases
06/11/12 - Victoria Pier, Colwyn Bay


A Court Hearing took place in Cardiff on Monday, 5th November in relation to Victoria Pier, Colwyn Bay.

Mrs Hunt's application to adjourn the hearing was unsuccessful.

The Court considered Mrs Hunt's claim of a beneficial interest in the pier. 

Conwy County Borough Council was represented at the hearing and opposed the application made by Mrs Hunt.

The Court dismissed Mrs Hunt's application.  She was ordered to pay the Council's costs and was refused permission for leave to appeal.

Iwan Davies, Chief Executive, Conwy County Borough Council said, "The Council is pleased with the Court's decision.   The structure has been an eyesore for too long and we are eager to draw a line under this matter and, if the finance and grants package is secured, we will work towards dealing with the pier alongside the redevelopment of the waterfront at Colwyn Bay."

Conwy County Borough Council owns the pier and is working closely with Shore Thing, a not-for-profit charity community group, to secure its future.

Offline Michael

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #378 on: November 06, 2012, 09:47:16 pm »
 I am sorry to say this because I admire anyone who "has a go" at doing virtually anything but ------ Steve Hunt should have given up the fight years and years ago. All this has done is drag out the outcome, and involved lots of wasted money on all sides. Yours and mine as well through local taxes which have been wasted.
   Yes, Steve and his Mother have lost money as well, but this prolonged battle was their own fault.

Offline DaveR

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #379 on: November 06, 2012, 10:12:18 pm »
I am sorry to say this because I admire anyone who "has a go" at doing virtually anything but ------ Steve Hunt should have given up the fight years and years ago. All this has done is drag out the outcome, and involved lots of wasted money on all sides. Yours and mine as well through local taxes which have been wasted.
   Yes, Steve and his Mother have lost money as well, but this prolonged battle was their own fault.
Exactly.  $good$

Offline Andy-Harris

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #380 on: November 06, 2012, 11:06:00 pm »
As the recent press release that Conwy Council has a deficit of £7 million, is this the end for colwyn bay pier?

Offline DaveR

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #381 on: November 08, 2012, 09:29:03 am »
Unfortunately, the Mayor's idea, although laudable, does not make economic sense. Revenue raised though an admission fee would barely cover the cost of a person to take the money, let alone pay for any maintenance.

As someone who's worked in Pier management, I can say that the secret to a sustainable pier is having the attractions on it that will generate the revenue to cover the ongoing maintenance costs.


Council wins latest pier court battle
Nov 8 2012 by David Powell, North Wales Weekly News

A BUSINESSWOMAN has lost her ownership battle for a pier - paving the way for a council to try to find a solution over its future.

The Mayor of Colwyn Bay now wants Victoria Pier to be restored for walkers and anglers - not for wider use - who can pay a contribution to its upkeep through turnstiles, similar to Bangor Pier.

The latest breakthrough came after a Cardiff County Court hearing on Monday. Former owner Steve Hunt had previously tried and failed to persuade a judge to uphold his ownership claim to the structure. His mother Gloria Hunt has been doing the same thing and on Monday she applied to adjourn the Cardiff hearing.
 
Conwy Council released a statement to say that she was unsuccessful. A council spokesman said that the court considered Mrs Hunt’s claim of a “beneficial interest” in the pier. Conwy County Borough Council opposed this application by Mrs Hunt and said that the court dismissed Mrs Hunt’s application. She was ordered to pay the council’s costs and was refused permission for leave to appeal. After the case, chief executive Iwan Davies, of Conwy County Borough Council, said: “The council is pleased with the court’s decision.” He hinted that the pier could have a future, saying: “The structure has been an eyesore for too long and we are eager to draw a line under this matter. And, if the finance and grants package is secured, we will work towards dealing with the pier alongside the redevelopment of the waterfront at Colwyn Bay.”

The authority owns the pier and is working closely with Shore Thing, a not-for-profit charity community group, to secure its future.Cllr Viv Perry, the Mayor of Colwyn Bay, wants it to be restored for walkers and anglers - not for any others, potentially costly uses which would have to be maintained and incur future, unnecessary debts. She said: “It has to be fully sustainable and not a drain on council taxpayers. I don’t want to leave a debt disaster to our children and grandchildren otherwise they will find themselves in exactly the same situation we are in - in 50 years time. I would prefer to see no buildings on it and have it similar to Bangor Pier. Maybe there could be a just a shelter at the end for people to sit in in inclement weather. Walkers and anglers could walk through turnstiles and pay to use the pier rather than taxpayers footing the bill for ever.”
The Mayor says that the pier, if restored, can sit alongside the under construction Porth Eirias watersports hotspot centre, as long as they serve different functions. Steve Hunt and Gloria Hunt could not be reached.

Offline viv

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #382 on: November 14, 2012, 07:20:58 pm »
Unfortunately, when you speak to the press you have no control over what actually is printed, anin this case, the insertion of an "s" in the wrong place changed the meaning of my comment which should have read -" walkers and anglers and other potentially costly uses ". As soon as you put buildings on a structure there is a massive increase in costs to maintain the whole thing all the year round. Shore Thing was suggesting a restaurant for training the unemployed and also some sort of manufacturing project - possibly sweets/cakes etc.  All these training ventures rely heavily on long term funding from Unemployment contracts etc,propped up by the income gained from the catering and manufactured product. I am concerned that it just would not be enough income to maintain the pier for years to come. I would really love to be proved wrong, but I know that Bangor pier generated a lot of turnstile and cafe income which unfortunately was not ringfenced by Gwynedd Council for a long term maintenance plan.

Well DaveR -with your experience in Pier Management, perhaps you could join the Shore thing group to strengthen their resolve and provide valuable advice?

Offline romanjohn

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #383 on: November 22, 2012, 01:11:03 am »
it seams that piers are in the news well and truly south parade  pier  in portsmouth  where i live is going up for auxtion next mounth the owners it seems are going to do a runner

Offline DaveR

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #384 on: November 22, 2012, 09:09:53 am »
it seams that piers are in the news well and truly south parade  pier  in portsmouth  where i live is going up for auxtion next mounth the owners it seems are going to do a runner
Guide Price £190k - 210k. Amazing.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2235691/South-Parade-Pier-Southsea-sold-auction-guide-price-just-190-00-210-000.html

http://www.cliveemson.co.uk/listing_view.asp?Lot=115&Auc=158

"South Parade Pier offers huge scope and potential for a new owner and is considered very worthy of the works and repairs required, having reached a stage where investment is now required to restore the structure and enable its continuance as a well used local landmark.

The Pier is accessed from South Parade leading to a substantial amusement arcade with cloakroom and W.C., covered west passage leading to foyer and box office with management offices and store rooms.

Gaiety Suite (licensed capacity of 750) with stage area and three dressing rooms, substantial kitchen, large bar and associated beer cellars and storage, ladies and gents cloakrooms with W.C.s.

Albert Bar (licensed capacity of 400) including substantial bar with beer cellar, kitchen and servery, ladies and gents cloakrooms with W.C.s. Boardroom Meeting Room on the first floor (licensed capacity of 30).

Open east passage leading to the southern end of the pier, previously housing fairground style stalls, rides and crazy golf, but at present open. There is a fishing deck at a lower level beyond the main structure.

We have been advised that a substantial “basement” exists beneath the amusement arcade and that ladies and gents toilet facilities, which have lain unused for many years, exist beneath the main structure and are accessed from either side of the main entrance. These facilities have not been inspected."

Offline Jack

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #385 on: November 22, 2012, 09:13:30 am »
Yes but at least £2 million to restore - your going to need deep pockets!

Offline SDQ

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #386 on: November 22, 2012, 03:56:35 pm »
It's getting a fair amount of press. They even mentioned it on BBC Breakfast this morning.
Valar Morghulis

Offline DaveR

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #387 on: December 15, 2012, 09:40:15 am »
Will this idiot just not disappear?  &shake&

A BUSINESSMAN fighting for ownership of Colwyn Bay’s Victoria Pier has won the right to take his battle further.

Steve Hunt has been given leave to appeal to London’s High Court.

It follows a case in August when a judge upheld Conwy County Borough Council’s bid to own the crumbling structure – instead of Mr Hunt.

Then in November, Mr Hunt’s mother Gloria Hunt asked a Cardiff County Court judge to consider her claim that she had a “beneficial interest” in the pier having put £50,000 in it.

Conwy Council opposed this application and the court dismissed it. Mrs Hunt was ordered to pay the council’s costs and was refused permission for leave to appeal. But now her son is able to continue his own legal action over the pier ownership. It is not yet known when his case will be heard. Last night, Mr Hunt was unavailable for comment.

Conwy Connty Borough Council say they have been making the pier structurally safe but wouldn’t comment on the appeal.

Cllr Chris Hughes, of Colwyn Bay, wants the legal dispute and any funding applications to restore the pier dealt with quickly. He said: “Mr Hunt has an absolute right to exhaust the legal proceedings. My only concern is the longer this takes the more uncertain the future of the pier.” He said Heritage Lottery Fund staff want to know who owns it, and European Union and UK Government capital funding are limited.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2012/12/15/colwyn-bay-victoria-pier-dispute-goes-on-55578-32430669/

Offline Merddin Emrys

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #388 on: December 15, 2012, 10:19:47 am »
Went past the other day, seems to be a security guard there by the entrance, how ever much is that costing us?
A pigeon is for life not just Christmas

Offline Michael

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Re: The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier
« Reply #389 on: December 16, 2012, 12:46:39 pm »
 Bad news about Steve Hunt arising again. I thought this had been well and truly put to bed. In view of the fact he obviously haven't got that sort of money' cannot the legal system say "look. You go ahead and appeal yet again. But this time you pay xxx amount of cash up front to finance it. Lose, and you lose your cash." why should we all go on financing this mans fantasies? Mike