Surfers warned over Brighton West Pier wreckage (From The Argus)

Surfers warned over Brighton West Pier wreckage

1:20pm Tuesday 4th May 2010 in News By Richard Gurner

Surfers warned over Brighton West Pier wreckage

Surfers and swimmers have been warned to steer clear of a pier after underwater cameras revealed lethal spikes of twisted metal.

The debris from Brighton’s West Pier was left behind after the collapsed concert hall section of the pier was dismantled in February this year for safety reasons.

Surfer and designer Chris Beasley photographed the hazard, which also includes rope and nets, while compiling work for an upcoming festival exhibition of photographs of the pier.

The 57-year-old said: “Far from removing a hazard from the beach, the recent excavations have turned the old pier into a lethal trap that will surely cause injury or worse once the beaches fill up for the summer.

“The pictures show a small sample of vicious iron spikes, trapped ropes, net and other debris that are concealed by all but the lowest tides and shifting sand - left behind by the clearance in February.

“The frame of the old concert hall laying on the beach was an obvious hazard and one which parents could easily see and warn their children away from.

“Once covered with an incoming tide there is no indication of any danger - bathers and paddlers risk crippling injury.”

Rachel Clark, chief executive of the West Pier Trust, said the metal work was left over from pier's landing stages.

She said: “We have arranged with the council for some marker buoys to be put there next month to make sure that surfers don't go anywhere near it.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: "We have been working with the West Pier Trust to ensure that the remaining structure and surrounding land, which is the Trust's responsibility, is as safe as it can be.

“This includes looking at erecting signs to warn of the dangers around the pier.

"During summer, we have up to 11 flagged bathing zones with lifeguards in attendance along the city's coastline and would recommend that swimmers stay within these zones where possible."