West Pier - Have Your Say

PS i would love the pier to be restored to it's original state and I am deeply dismayed that it was left to ruin and fire. Maybe a club or fundraising committe could be started to aid this.

My Grandfather or greatgrandfather used to be the amusement manager at Brighton, I have found a pass for his family and a picture (black and white) of the big ferris wheel that apparently was there. I am of the understanding that this was moved to Russia at some point and was also seen in a James Bond film (live and let die I think)can anyone confirm this or help with my investigations.
Also I cannot find any other pictures of this ferris wheel at brighton.

I do so hope the West Pier can be rebuilt, but keeping the beautiful, sad remians of the old as they are. Don't quite know how....but there must be a way. Perhaps the new pier could go out diagonally? Or further along? I fully support the i360, hope it is built really soon and quicker, to make up for delays. I also like the idea of a giant wind turbine as someone else on this site suggested. I also hope the Gehry towers and the Marina 40 storey tower come fruition soon. Brighton is a gorgeous city and deserves the best for the future.

I love the West Pier as it is, but I'm coming around to the idea of the i360 and more optimistically to the regeneration that its construction may bring to that area of the seafront - if that is indeed what will happen. The bandstand, the old paddling pool area, Preston Street, the bike hire area have all seen better days and if the i360 project means that whole section will get revitalised, it can only be a good thing.
I sit on the beach on a sunny day and see the amount of tourist pounds that are coming into the city as well as our council and business tax and wonder where it is all going, as no money has been spent on that area for years and years. For the progressive resort town that Brighton claims to be, the seafront is pretty shoddy - worse than Worthing or Eastbourne. The beach is obviously one of the City's main selling points and frankly at the moment it looks like we don't care. If the i360 means some greenery, less cracked paving stones, slapdash tarmac and crumbling structures, then it may offer a way to sustain year-round growth for the local economy. A 600 ft observation tower is an obvious beacon for tourism, but without care and attention to its surroundings, we will not truly be reaping the benefits such extravagance could bring.

I am torn in two ways over the plans to restore and rebuild the West Pier. I have loved and photographed the pier for many years... since its closure. I am unfortunately too young to have ever stepped foot on there when it was in use.

It is a stunning sculpture as it stands, baring its soul and showing the patina of life. In many ways it would be sad to see what is left altered and dismantled to make way for a new structure.

On the other hand, the West Pier deserves to rise from the ashes and once again be the center point of Brighton sea front, matching any glory from it's hay day.

I suppose it comes down to the design of the Pier... What will it look like? How will it incorprate old and new...? What will be saved? What will be taken away? We need to see a computer generated image of the design in order for us supporters of the West Pier to be completely won over.

In the 1970s I joined the wey and arun canal soc to open up the canal that had been left to rot for a hundred years. We had no money so we saved paper, held jumble sales and dances and with the money we earnt purchased tools. 37 years later it's still going strong
I also joined the west pier trust in the 1970s but was never asked to do anything. Whereas if they had purchased paint and asked us volunteers to work on the pier. It would be standing today

Leave the West Pier alone. Build the biggest wind turbine in the world!

Having two piers is nice as it creates the feel of a cosy lagoon in the centre. However the disintegrating pier is a great sculpture as it is and should be left to decay back into the sea before rebuilding. It is probably now the most photographed pier is the world!

Instead, lets build the largest WIND TURBINE ever so that Brighton can lead the way in making a point about using renewable energy. Giant wind turbines make BEAUTIFUL and ELEGANT landmarks and make great observation towers and at the same time serve a very useful purpose.

The sails of large wind turbines turn very slowly and and are a pleasure to watch. Their natural engineering requirements for lightness and strength also make them majestic sculptures.

There's quite a lot of activity down on the seafront by the pier, where the bike shop is, at the moment. Is this beginning of the i360 does anyone know?

How interesting that Councillors suddenly appear on this site when an election is brewing. The bandstand Lottery Fund application has been refused. Another dismal failure by a benighted Council and its merry men and women.

The flood lighting of the hotels in the Square is dazzlingly bright so why are we trying to subdue an elegant addition to the seafront. The Regency Sq Society's proposal for the pier had two huge light sculptures. So let's not tie the hands of the designers before they even start. Provided it doesn't sear anyone's retina let's try for once to stop micromanaging everything.

i360 - You will be aware that work is due to commence on the i360. We were pleased to raise various views and opinions from residents during the planning process. One issue which came up related to the need to improve the appearance of the area surrounding the development, and we are pleased to be able to report that the Council has agreed to undertake this work in last week's Council Budget.

Seafront Children's Playground and restoration of the Bandstand - The Council Budget has also released funds to enlarge the popular children's playground on the seafront. Improvements to the playground will provide a major boost for the seafront and give families from this area better facilities for their children. The Budget has also agreed the match funding for the restoration of the Birdcage Bandstand, however this will be subject to a successful outcome from the lottery application, which is now expected sometime from March.