The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier

[BMD]

The article (by Tom Davidson) says it's Colwyn Victoria Pier Trust (CVPT) - which apparently is a merger of the Pier Pressure Group and Shore Thing. They must have support from a public body to make a bid, and the article implies this will be Colwyn Bay Town Council, with which they'll act in partnership, "if the application for development funding is successful".

[SteveH]

Am I right in thinking the ownership court case is on this week??

Postponed until August 6...the saga carries on!
[/quote

Re above.?     ?        ?    Is their a petition ? what is the feeling ?  do people want it ?

[BMD]

This is sad to read: How the council is moving ahead with plans to demolish the pier: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/look-colwyn-bay-pier-demolition-7747026

As always, I'm struck with the language and philistine illogic of the people who influence these decisions. The way Rob Dix ("Bay Life’s regeneration officer") talks about various piers always having "struggled", you'd wonder why the Victorians built them in the first place - or why everybody loves them. I mean, they're just one big "struggle". But aren't some things worth having regardless of the "struggle"? Their answer to that seems to be "Yes" in the case of Porth Eirias, but no in the case of Victorian piers.

[DaveR]

Porth Eirias is certainly a 'struggle', yet they don't appear to have given up on that yet!

[Ian]

As always, I'm struck with the language and philistine illogic of the people who influence these decisions.

Absolutely.  It's not simply Philistine; it's disingenuous.

[SteveH]

Just found this link to a petition.   Is this the only one?......

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

[Fester]

This is sad to read: How the council is moving ahead with plans to demolish the pier: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/look-colwyn-bay-pier-demolition-7747026

As always, I'm struck with the language and philistine illogic of the people who influence these decisions. The way Rob Dix ("Bay Life’s regeneration officer") talks about various piers always having "struggled", you'd wonder why the Victorians built them in the first place - or why everybody loves them. I mean, they're just one big "struggle". But aren't some things worth having regardless of the "struggle"? Their answer to that seems to be "Yes" in the case of Porth Eirias, but no in the case of Victorian piers.

There will be no demolition whilst it is still listed.... and there is no unseemly rush to de-list it.

Nothing will happen in the short term, and whilst there is life, there is hope.
But, once it's gone, it's gone forever, and those who vote for that to happen should hang their heads in shame.

[SteveH]

PIER: Conwy Council has applied for a licence to put up a security fence around Colwyn Bay's Victoria Pier for safety reasons.
Ref.DPblog8am

[SteveH]

PIER: Conwy Council has applied for a licence to put up a security fence around Colwyn Bay's Victoria Pier for safety reasons.
Ref.DPblog8am

Safety measures stepped up at Colwyn Bay pier
Security is being stepped up around Colwyn Bay’s dilapidated Victoria Pier.
Conwy Council has applied for a marine licence to Natural Resources Wales to erect a fence “to protect the public from (the) risk of the unstable structure”.
It is understood that it will be needed when contractors move off site and the area under the pier will become more accessible.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/safety-measures-stepped-up-colwyn-7928429

[SteveH]

Ref Tom Davidson Wkly/news....DPblog
Letter to @ConwyCBC leader Cllr Dilwyn Roberts asking for assurances a business case to save Pier would be considered
11:55 AM - 14 Oct 2014

Copy of letter on Daily post live Blog...http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/live-north-wales-live-blog-7928695

[dwsi]

Ref Tom Davidson Wkly/news....DPblog
Letter to @ConwyCBC leader Cllr Dilwyn Roberts asking for assurances a business case to save Pier would be considered
11:55 AM - 14 Oct 2014

Copy of letter on Daily post live Blog...http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/live-north-wales-live-blog-7928695

[DaveR]

Heritage Lottery bid to save Colwyn Bay's pier
Oct 16, 2014 16:33
By Tom Davidson

Bay of Colwyn Town Council’s continuing fight to save the pier has been given a shot in the arm.

The town council has been given the legal green light to work with community group the Colwyn Victoria Pier Trust in an application for Heritage Lottery Funding.

Councillors voted to support CVPT in June, despite Conwy Council continuing to seek demolition, but were unsure of their legal footing.

Following consultation with lawyers they have been approved, provided they limit their own financial liability.

CVPT hopes to resubmit a revised Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid for 73% of both the development phase and delivery phase of the project, after Conwy Council turned down HLF development funding following a vote in December 2013 to demolish the pier.

If the application for development phase funding is successful Bay of Colwyn Town Council will enter into partnership with CVPT to put together a feasibility study and find out once and for all if the pier can have a future.

Cllr John Reaney said: “At the minute we seem to have just two options, one to renovate the pier completely or one where it gets demolished.

“I get a lot of people in favour and a lot not but I’m only telling them a limited story.

“I’m not here to have my own opinion, I’m here to represent the people of my ward and they need to be able to make an informed decision.”

This news comes just one week before a special meeting of the full council regarding the Victoria Pier on Tuesday, October 21.

At 6pm councillors will be briefed by Conwy Council officers Sasha Davies and Rob Dix on the worsening condition of the 114-year-old structure.

This week Conwy Council has been taking measures to improve security around the pier.

They have now applied for a marine licence to Natural Resources Wales to put up a fence “to protect the public from (the) risk of the unstable structure”.

It is understood that it will be needed when contractors move off site and the area under the pier will become more accessible.

In December last year, the local authority voted to clear the site, and it has now recruited independent environmental consultants Nash Partnership of Bath to advise and support its bid to bring in the bulldozers.

Edward Nash’s firm will test the merits of Conwy Council’s case for demolition, report monthly and conclude its work by November or December.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/in-your-area/heritage-lottery-bid-save-colwyn-7948434

[SteveH]

 ££$ ££$ ££$ ££$ ££$

[SteveH]

Colwyn Bay councillors back bid to revamp pier which is now deteriorating at an 'incredible' rate

Two councils are going head to head over the demolition of a historic pier — amid warnings it is deteriorating rapidly.

Bay of Colwyn town councillors voted to submit a bid — likely to be about £8.5m — by the end of November to the Heritage Lottery Fund to redevelop Colwyn Bay’s Grade II listed Victoria Pier.

This was despite receiving a presentation from two senior Conwy County Council officers, its leader and a consultant — who all backed demolition.

Supporters, including Jess Steele who helped save Hastings Pier, were delighted with the vote but Cllr Viv Perry, a former Mayor of Colwyn Bay, said the vote would only “prolong the agony” before inevitable demolition.

Earlier, Rob Dix, Conwy’s section head for business and and enterprise told the meeting that part of the pier is structurally unsound, a new two-metre high security fence is being put up and even council officers will be ordered not to enter the premises for safety reasons.
More....
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/colwyn-bay-councillors-back-bid-7983764

[Dave]

It would be interesting to run a poll on this forum occasionally, to see which way the wind blows on this one would be a good start !