Campaigners fight to save Hastings Pier (From The Argus)

Campaigners fight to save Hastings Pier

4:00pm Friday 8th October 2010 in News

Campaigners have vowed to fight on in the battle for Hastings Pier despite fires reigniting for a third successive day.

Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust (HRWRT) said it had received messages of support from across the world and expect their membership to swell by 100% in the coming months following Tuesday’s blaze.

The Victorian landmark was gutted in a suspected arson attack but trustees are still hopeful the structure can be rebuilt.

Fire crews were again called to the 138-year-old pier on Wednesday night when hotspots reignited more than 48 hours after the original blaze began. Last night crews were still dampening down pockets of fire where debris continued to burn.

A crane has been used to remove some parts of the damaged structure, including the bandstand pavilion.

Investigation into the cause of the fire continues to be hampered by fears of the structure’s safety.

Hastings Station Commander George O’Reilly said they do not expect to be given full access to the pier in the “foreseeable future”.

Crews have been visiting the pier at low tide in an attempt to get closer to the end of the pier.

The pier is owned by Panama-based company Ravenclaw Investments.

Hastings Borough Council said it has not received any “formal contact” from the company since the fire.

HRWRT, which had about 300 members before the blaze, are urging people to pledge their support to rebuild the pier.

However the possibility of restoration continues to hinge on how fire damaged the pier sub-structure is. Jess Steele, HPWRT treasurer, said she is hopeful for an update after a structural engineer visits the site on Monday.

Ms Steele said the trust still plans to apply for up to £9.5 million of funding from the Heritage Lottery Grant and the Builders Community Fund and is confident costs to restore the pier will not rocket much further.

She said: “If the columns are no more damaged than they were then there is no reason that restoration of it should cost more.

“We wanted a 21 Century pier and we don’t think there is any reason it will cost more.”

She added: “There has been enormous solidarity across seaside towns.”

Trustees will meet the owners of Weston-super-Mare’s pier to hear how that was rebuilt after a huge fire in 2008.

They have also received messages of support from America, Switzerland, Northern Ireland and Belgium and have also in contact with the owners of Blackpool Pier.

The trust has launched an Adopt a Plank campaign for people to pledge support if a rebuild is possible.

However they said they are not asking for money up front.

To find out how to support the trust or to become a member visit www.hpwrt.co.uk or visit the Pier Shop, in White Rock, Hastings.

Two teenage men, an 18-year-old and 19-year-old, both from St Leonards, arrested on suspicion of arson have been bailed by police.

Anyone with information about the fire should call Sussex Police on 08456070999.