West Pier takes new damage

The Argus Monday, 20 January, 2003

ANOTHER section of Brighton's stricken West Pier crashed into the sea this afternoon.

As gale-force winds lashed the listed building, parts of the concert hall collapsed.

Part of the pier collapsed on Sunday December 29.

Rachel Clark, general manager of the Brighton West Pier Trust, said today's collapse "looks serious."

The collapse occurred soon after high tide with waves whipped up by a southerly storm.

The beach near the West Pier has already been fenced off so that the public cannot go near the pier.

Built between 1866 and 1916, the pier has been closed since 1975 because of its dangerous condition.