Counter threat in battle of the piers

Adam Trimingham - The Argus Tuesday, 22 October, 2002

THE WEST Pier Trust wants to claim damages from the owners of the rival Palace Pier as a bitter legal battle intensifies.

The Noble Organisation, which owns the Palace Pier, has lodged an appeal in the European Court of Justice against the award of National Lottery cash to renovate the West Pier.

Noble has also objected to a harbour revision order necessary if plans for restoring the pier together with new shoreline buildings are to succeed.

Dr Geoff Lockwood, chief executive of the West Pier Trust, is now planning his own court challenge.

He said: "The Noble Organisation is clearly prepared to oppose the interests of the city and its citizens.

"The costs to the public purse by the actions of the organisation in the past two years are very considerable. The added cost to the restoration should the pier collapse due to the delay caused by the organisation will be even more considerable. I am contemplating a counter-claim for damages for its vexatious pursuit of a trade dispute in defence of a monopoly against the public interest."

St Modwen, the developer chosen by the trust, has submitted plans to Brighton and Hove City Council for the two shoreline buildings that would contain leisure and recreation facilities.

The plans have been modified and made smaller following public comment to ensure better views from homes facing on to the seafront.

Noble, which objected to the original scheme, is also putting in objections to the revisions.

Director David Biesterfield said: "We are in for the long haul. This is a commercial scheme."

Dr Lockwood said he was confident the Lottery cash appeal would be dismissed but the legal process could take many months.

Objections to the planning application and the order were probably being made to create further delay.

He added: "We have offered to enter into agreements not to compete with the 'funfair-fast food' ambience of the Palace Her.

"The Palace Pier will not lose and will gain. None of its current clientele will desert it to visit the West Pier only. But some of the new visitors to the West Pier will undoubtedly visit the Palace Pier."

Mr Biesterfield said he had not received any offer and it was patronising to think of the Palace Pier as funfairs, fruit machines and fast food.

He added: "They have not said exactly how much this development will impact on our pier. It will be in direct competition with us."

No details of the content of the shoreline development had been made public and even though now reduced, it would be an extremely large area.

Mr Biesterfield said the credibility of the bid was fatally flawed. Earlier this year, they had said the development proposed was the minimum necessary and now it had been reduced in size.

Mr Biesterfield added: "It is unlikely that we would object to a fully-restored heritage pier on its own."