Have your say on West Pier scheme

Adam Trimingham - The Argus Wednesday, 27 March, 2002

WORK on restoring the only Grade I listed pier in Britain will start in a year's time if planning permission is given for a controversial shoreline development.

The Brighton West Pier Trust is distributing 110,000 copies of a leaflet about restoration plans to residents.

There has been strong opposition to the development of bars, restaurants, shops and leisure uses planned for land on either side of the pier by private sector partners St Modwen.

The leaflet, however, says the development is essential to make the £30 million restoration of the historic pier viable.

Emergency preservation work will start later this year and the scheme should be completed by the summer of 2004.

The leaflet says the new development has been designed as a series of glass pavilions complementing the pier and its architecture.

Existing walks would be maintained and there would be a southern extension of the promenade with direct views of the pier and the sea.

No development would be on the pier itself but some views of the sea could be reduced for short lengths.

It says the buildings by the West Pier were unlikely to set a precedent for other development on the seafront and the alternative of retaining the West Pier as an elegant but decaying structure was not realistic.

It said: "In a few years time, the structure would collapse into the sea and would need to be cleared at a cost of £2.3 million."

The need for development on the proposed scale cannot change but the detailed design could take into account constructive and practical comments.

Under the scheme, the pier would be restored authentically. There is not enough space on the structure to accommodate commercial uses.

New development would provide funding for maintenance and repairs of the pier during the next 150 years.

An exhibition of the new plans will be held at the Brighton West Pier's offices on the pier from Wednesday, April 17 to Tuesday, April 23, between 10am and 5pm.

The leaflet includes a card for comments.