The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier

[DaveR]

The Council may now be in the position where they have to serve a Section 215 Notice upon themselves. 

http://incompetencetoday.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/joy-of-section-215.html

But the Council can't serve a notice on themselves! If the court case goes in favour of Steve Hunt they could serve a notice on him!

The Council is the owner of the Pier and they should deal with it as they would the owner of any other Listed Building that is an unsafe eyesore. Are you saying that the law should not apply to them? 

[viv]

Absolutely not! I think they should, but they can't legally - the Council cannot issue any enforcement orders on itself.

[DaveR]

That seems like a bizarre anomaly. CCBC were happy to serve a Section 215 Notice on the owner of Billingtons Garage in Conwy last year, because it was an eyesore. Now they are able to preside over probably the most prominent eyesore in Conwy County without any fear of prosecution.

To quote CCBC's own policy:

"The owner of a listed building has a duty to preserve it and failure to do so may lead the Council to serve a notice stating those works it considers necessary to ensure its preservation."

http://www.conwy.gov.uk/section.asp?cat=10225

 

[BMD]

I've written to Private Eye magazine over the pier & Porth Eirias. I think the whole tragic episode warrants coverage in their "Rotten Boroughs" section, which deals with ineptitude, stupidity, lack of transparency, corruption, etc, in local councils. You can contact them at: strobes@private-eye.co.uk

[BMD]

Some coverage in North Wales Weekly News:

A Cadw spokesman appeared to pour scorn on any forthcoming de-listing attempt. They said: "For any de-listing request to be successful it would need to be accompanied by new evidence to demonstrate that the pier was listed in error".

Also:

The decision [to demolish] has been slammed by the Victorian Society. Conservation officer James Hughes said Conwy council should have explored less expensive options besides a complete refurbishment. He said retaining the pier as a "walk-on structure" would not have been as financially demanding. Mr Hughes said: "It's listed because it's nationally significant and to argue that it's unviable based on a single option and therefore should be demolished is shocking, disappointing and surprising".

But, returning to the voices of unreason & illogic: Cllr William Knightley, of Towyn, is quoted as saying, "The people of Conwy cannot afford for the council to waste money on a white elephant". I don't think there's an emoticon that would illustrate my reaction to that, but:

1. He doesn't actually speak for the "people of Conwy".
2. I don't know a single person that would consider a renovated Victorian pier to be a "white elephant".
3. The council has already wasted money on a white elephant. It's called Porth Eirias, and has been branded a carbuncle by independent architectural experts.

[Ian]

We're used to Conwy councillors having trouble with complex issues, such as telling the time and reading, but what's happening now really does beggar belief and clearly shows the severe limitations of local democracy. 

"Elections are decided by the votes of the uneducated many for the corrupt few."
George Bernard Shaw.

[Merddin Emrys]

The whole system needs rebuilding from scratch, completely inefficient at the moment! 

[Merddin Emrys]

It can be done!

After months of renovation work, the £4.2million Penarth Pier Pavilion is finally open to the public.

The new facilities inside the iconic Grade II Pavilion include a pop-up cafe and restaurant, a gift shop and a meeting room offering views of the Bristol Channel.



http://www.itv.com/news/wales/update/2013-12-01/penarth-pier-pavilion-to-be-unveiled-after-4-2m-makeover/

[BMD]

Since no money exists to fund such "white elephants", the Penarth Pier renovation cannot really exist. I suggest it's a hallucination. Death, taxes and austerity are the only realities, if you want to advance in local politics. In fact, Conwy Castle and the whole of LLandudno are not really "sustainable", when you think about it. "Let's face reality and bulldoze it all" (Conwy council mission statement)

[Merddin Emrys]

Could well happen with the clowns in control! 

[Ian]

"Let's face reality and bulldoze it all" (Conwy council mission statement)

 

[Yorkie]

"Let's face reality and bulldoze it all" (Conwy council mission statement)

 

All those in favour shout, "Aye!"    ZXZ

[BMD]

The people who created the petition (to overturn the decision to demolish the pier) have posted this announcement:

"There is Town Council meeting ... on Monday 13th at Colwyn Bay Town Hall starting at 6:30pm. Please come along and show your support for the fight to save our pier. Please pass this message on to family and friends who support the pier. Thanks. If you come you have to be quiet!!"

http://www.change.org/petitions/conwy-borough-council-overturn-the-decision-to-knock-down-colwyn-bay-pier-and-restore-it

[viv]

This is a false announcement! The date, time and location represents a normal meeting of the Town Council, not a Public meeting. Cllr Chris Hughes was quoted in the pier inviting people to come to a public meeting to have their say, and even he should know that although a Town Council meeting can be attended by the public, they are not allowed to speak! He had an item put on the agenda which was just a copy of the paperwork relating to the County Council's decision to demolish. There is not a lot that the Town Council can do about that - we pledged £20K to the feasibility study, ( which was never paid as it has not happened), but until ownership is finally decided any further discussion would be all hot air - and I think there's probably enough of that around at the moment!!

[viv]

sorry - Chris Hughes was quoted in the Pioneer, not the Pier!!