The long running saga of Colwyn Bay Pier

[Fester]

Consultant engineers have said Victoria Pier Colwyn Bay can no longer be considered stable and substantial parts of it are now at serious risk of collapse; with a recent independent report stating that 75 per of the structural parts have either visibly failed or have corroded so much they no longer provide the strength required.


I do not believe a single word of this.   

Nothing material can have changed since the Datry's report which mentioned the inherent strength of the piles, columns and steel work of the pier.   

[Ian]

I do not believe a single word of this.

It should be fairly straightforward to prove or disprove. There are many independent chartered engineers around.

[Fester]

...... and they all charge a King's ransom in order to reach a conclusion.

The Datrey's report is about 3 years old now, and detailed every facet of CB Pier.

In Summary, the vast majority of the upper superstructure is terrible and unsafe, and the vast majority of the ironwork is either fine, or fixable.

Dave R gave me a hard copy of the detailed report, which I read every page of, with enthusiasm.

[BMD]

Here's a fairly typical excerpt from the Datrys structural appraisal (2010):

The cast iron piles and columns did not exhibit any structurally significant
defects and no signs of excessive corrosion were noted. The joints between
the low level piles and upper columns were intact and appeared to be
adequately sealed. In our opinion these members could be retained and
refurbished.

The bottom rails (struts) extending between the piles did not exhibit
structurally significant defects and no signs of excessive corrosion were
noted. However, the majority of the end connections for these members had
failed or were in poor condition, and would need to be replaced.

I've uploaded the full Datrys structural & superstructure appraisals (pdf format) to my blog, links here:
https://colwynbay.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/pd-cb-pier-main-structure-report-2-28-04-10.pdf
https://colwynbay.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/pd-cb-pier-pavillion-structures-appended-report-3-23-8-10.pdf

The structural appraisal from Datrys Consulting Engineers (2010) was apparently good enough for the council to base their decisions on just over a year ago. Bowen Consultants (used by the council) did the estimations which led to the (over-inflated) £15m renovation estimate (their report of December 2013 says that their costs are based on Datrys's 2010 structural appraisal).

So, what exactly is the new report cited by the recent Pioneer article ("recent independent report stating that 75 per of the structural parts have either visibly failed or have corroded so much they no longer provide the strength required.") - and where can it be accessed and scrutinised?

How can a structure that's lasted for so long, and appraised as largely "sound" and fixable (with replacements of some elements needed) - not to mention being the basis for an awarded lottery fund grant of £594,000 in May 2013 - deteriorate in just 4 years from the Datrys report to a state which the council would have us believe justifies urgent demolition of whole structure on safety grounds?

[Ian]

So, what exactly is the new report cited by the recent Pioneer article ("recent independent report stating that 75 per of the structural parts have either visibly failed or have corroded so much they no longer provide the strength required.") - and where can it be accessed and scrutinised?

A very good question.  Let's see if anyone in CCBC has the decency to respond.

[Yorkie]

I think that the structure has been declared unfit due to that unseen hazard that all steel structures suffer, Metal Fatigue.  This is something that cannot be seen and generally only found by non- destructive testing.   The material may look sound, strong and suitable for the loads, dynamic and static, that it is designed to carry, but underneath the surface could lie a major problem.  One extra force on the structure could result in a calamity.

Just think of the wind factor that has destroyed many bridges over past years!  And, indeed, many other steel constructions.
 ZXZ

[Tom Davidson]

I gather Colwyn Victoria Pier Trust are also going to set up a display in the Bay View Shopping Centre next week - to show what could be done if the pier was restored. It'll be like the Jets v the Sharks in West Side Story, haha.

[DaveR]

I don't think that anyone who has ever witnessed the battering the Pier takes in a Winter Storm can doubt that its a lot better shape than CCBC want to admit.

[DaveR]

CCBC's Ridiculous Ideas Department have come up with a new idea for Colwyn Bay Pier:

Colwyn Bay pier's first pavilion could return in grand light project

Jan 19, 2015 20:00
By Jez Hemming

Demolition plan for historic Victorian pier could see columns left behind and iconic building brought back to life

A ghostly projection of Colwyn Bay Pier’s first pavilion could replace the landmark in the event of its demolition.

The columns which currently support the 115-year-old pier could also be left on the beach and illuminated under another proposal for the site’s future.

The town’s Victoria Pier is the subject of a dispute between Conwy Council, who want to demolish the ageing structure, and Colwyn Victoria Pier Trust, who want to redevelop it for community use.

The council announced plans to demolish the majority of the grade II listed boardwalk last week, leaving just 66% of the columns as a memorial to the attraction. A number of different configurations for the remaining columns have been proposed.

Artist’s impressions which accompany the council’s proposals for the site show the columns illuminated and a viewing platform at the sea wall.

Another option shows an image of the grand pavilion which stood on the pier in 1901 projected onto netting.

Town councillor John Reaney said both proposals looked “ridiculous”.

He said: “To be perfectly honest, I can’t say whether the pier should go to demolition or it shouldn’t. I would rather we had something there or nothing there.

“Both of the suggestions look ridiculous to me. The columns left standing don’t exactly look like the men at Crosby beach.

“I think the hologram won’t work in the day, so it’s just stupid.”

The council says the pier is beyond repair, but the pier trust maintains that three engineers have contradicted the authority’s findings.

A Heritage Lottery bid to restore the pier was withdrawn in 2013, after the county council withdrew its support despite the pier being awarded £5m in principle.

The pier trust needs a statutory body to act as a partner in order to make a bid. The town council has stepped in to support the trust’s application and a new lottery bid is imminent.

The council and pier trust are currently holding public consultations about their respective campaigns at the Bay View shopping centre in Colwyn Bay.

Gavin Davies, chair of the trust, said of the plan to keep the columns on the beach: “I just can’t believe they are even thinking of doing that. I am lost for words. It’s a joke. I suppose it’s somewhere to put your coat if you go down to the beach.

“At the moment, Conwy Council is putting in £53,000 a year just to keep it as it is.

“Our proposal will cost the council nothing - it’s a no-brainer. The council tax payer does not want to pay for columns sticking out of the sand. The council need to go back to the drawing board.”

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/look-colwyn-bay-piers-first-8475610

[Ian]

CCBC's Ridiculous Ideas Department have come up with a new idea for Colwyn Bay Pier

"CCBC RID"...  Certain poetry in that acronym, Dave :-))))

Hard to know where to start, isn't it? The projection is simply a daft idea. And if the supports are sufficiently robust to be left around then it begs the question of why they can't carry some weight - like decking.

[BMD]

If they're going to leave the columns, why not leave a basic minimum pier? The published estimate for basic boardwalk refurbishment was £2.7m more than for demolition (with demolition conservatively estimated at £1m). If they didn't even take it as far as opening for public use (yet), but just did the minimum necessary to keep it in decent state (minus all the rotting eyesore structures on it) that would presumably be less still. And it gives them the option to develop further in the future. Important heritage retained.

If they demolish (which is likely to cost much more than £1m, by most informed accounts), then leave the columns, then come up with some ridiculous proposal to pretty it up - with a hologram of a backwards-somersaulting mermaid in a CCBC clown suit with bells on, whatever - then by the time the farce is over, they may have spent more, all told, than if they'd just got on and repaired the basics. (As for "sustainability" of whatever they do, the words Porth Eirias come to mind).

But, unfortunately, it all stinks of damage limitation and PR to me - not rational consideration at all.

[Fester]

It would appear that CCBC know the 'Price' of everything, and the 'Value' of nothing.   

[BMD]

Colwyn Bay Victoria Trust is asking people to join a rally in a last attempt to save the pier. The idea is to show the Heritage Lottery Fund representatives the amount of public support for the pier when they visit next week (Friday 27th February).

Friday 27th February for a final rally
 
This is it. A team from the Heritage Lottery Fund will visit Colwyn Bay on Friday 27th February as they decide whether to grant us £9million to save, restore and breathe fresh life into Victoria Pier.

This will be our LAST CHANCE to impress the funders. If our bid fails, Victoria Pier will almost certainly be bulldozed, sold for scrap, and lost forever.

If you care about our heritage... if you care about Colwyn Bay... if you care about taking opportunities to make something better for ourselves and others... please join us on the promenade by the pier at 1pm on Friday 27th February for a mass rally to show the Heritage Lottery Fund how much Victoria Pier means to us.

More details: https://notjustpr.leadpages.net/colwynbaypier/
 

[DaveR]

A decision will be released on April 28th regarding whether grant money will be awarded for the renovation of the pier:
http://northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/146749/colwyn-bay-pier-trust-remain-hopeful-ahead-of-crucial-fortnight.aspx

Good luck to the Pier Trust! 

[DaveR]

Today should have been the day when the decision was announced regarding grant funding for Colwyn Bay Pier. However, it has had to be delayed due to the Election and it will now be May 8th at the earliest. If the funding is not forthcoming then the pier will have to be demolished.