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Vote made to demolish Colwyn Bay pier | Vote made to demolish Colwyn Bay pier |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Colwyn Bay pier is to be demolished, councillors have decided bringing to a five-year saga over its future to a close. | Colwyn Bay pier is to be demolished, councillors have decided bringing to a five-year saga over its future to a close. |
A report said restoring the Grade II-listed per would have cost more than £15m. | |
Conwy council had a £600,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant to investigate the feasibility of restoring the pier. | Conwy council had a £600,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant to investigate the feasibility of restoring the pier. |
A group set up to help restore the pier said it will fight the demolition. | |
The 113-year-old pier has been closed since 2008, and its condition has been deteriorating. | |
The council signed a deal to purchase the pier in 2012, and was awarded a lottery grant in May to start restoration work. | |
But it said that it would have to find more cash so that even planning of the restoration work could continue. | |
'White elephant' | |
On Thursday, councillors voted to begin the process of demolishing the pier which hosted performances from entertainers including Morecambe and Wise, Harry Secombe and musician Elvis Costello. | |
In an emotive debate in the council chamber the pier was referred to as both an important part of Colwyn Bay's heritage and a "white elephant". | |
Councillors were told that for the first phase of the project to go ahead, an extra £264,282 must be found, but the total cost of restoration was likely to be more than £15m. | |
Ronnie Hughes, the council's deputy leader said: "Nobody is saying where the extra money is coming from. Sometimes its better to pull out and not to mislead people" | |
But councillor Bob Squire said there was "a massive groundswell of public opinion to save the pier, which can't be ignored". | |
'Heritage destruction' | |
"The pier is part of Colwyn Bay's heritage. If we don't pursue the grant, we'll never know what might have been," he said. | |
Councillors had six options to consider, including demolishing the pier, carrying on with the restoration, and restoring only the decking but not the pier pavilions. | |
But they were told that all the options would cost money. Officials said that even doing nothing would leave the council with an annual bill of £53,000 to keep the pier safe, and other emergency works needed carrying out. | |
Opponents say they will fight the demolition, firstly by opposing the pier losing its listed status. | |
Gavin Davies, director of Shore Thing which was set up to help restore the pier, said: "We should not give up on the pier. It may be impossible, but we don't know that yet. Local opinion supports restoration, and we need to do something. | |
"There are no grants for heritage destruction, and it may take years to de-list the pier. I urge you to have faith." | |
The pier's former owner, Steve Hunt, was sitting in the public gallery during the debate. | |
A legal battle between him and the council is continuing, with both sides claiming they own it. | |
Afterwards, Mr Hunt said: "No-one can do anything until the legal case is settled, and that isn't due to be heard until June of next year. | |
"This could take years to unravel." |