New offer made to save the West Pier

The Argus Tuesday, 3 August, 2004

AMBITIOUS plans to restore the derelict West Pier have been put forward by a new consortium.

The scheme is being suggested at a meeting with Brighton and Hove City Council today.

Last week, English Heritage pulled the plug on a proposal to restore the Grade I listed pier to its original state.

But the consortium believes it can link the revived pier to major projects, including the rebuilding of the Brighton Centre and a monorail running along the seafront from Brighton Marina.

Three leading players in the city - builder John Regan, impresario and songwriter David Courtney and former chief finance officer for Brighton and Hove Howard Attree - have formed the group, called City Partnership.

Also backing the consortium is former world champion boxer Chris Eubank, who once wanted to live on the pier.

Mr Regan, whose company Birch Restorations is named after the pier's designer Eugenius Birch, said: "This is not the end but the beginning."

He said pieces of the pier which had been saved, including cast iron columns, could be used to rebuild its shore end.

The main structure would be a replica built in modern materials with steel supports.

The restored pier, with a moving walkway, would have a pavilion at the end.

It would also contain The Brighton Story, an attraction similar to a successful venture in Oxford.

At the shore end there would be a hotel and conference centre, mostly below the level of King's Road, which could be linked with the new Brighton Centre scheme.

Mr Regan said: "City Partnership will act as a catalyst to get this scheme going and to bring everyone together."

Geoff Lockwood, chief executive of Brighton West Pier Trust, said: "What everyone will want to see is if there is hard cash available."

Council leader Ken Bodfish said: "We are interested in all ideas that will save the pier."