Two months notice to repair Hastings Pier (From The Argus)

Two months notice to repair Hastings Pier

10:50am Friday 25th November 2011 in News

The owner of Hastings Pier is to be given two months to start repairing it or lose it.

Plans to restore the fire-ravaged attraction are expected to move a step closer on Monday, November 28.

Hastings Borough Council members will meet and are set to agree to serve Ravenclaw, the Panama-based company which owns the destroyed pier, with a repair notice.

Ravenclaw, which has so far ignored all the council’s attempts to contact it, will then have two months to either stump up the bill for the pier – estimated at least £8 million – or relinquish its hold over it.

If they do the latter, or ignore the notice, then Hastings Borough Council will use a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to take control of the pier and give it to the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust who will begin returning it to its former glory.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has said it will give the trust £8 million to fund the work.

So far English Heritage has spent about £100,000 stabilising the pier and the council about £70,000.

Peter Chowney, the lead member for regeneration at the council, said: “Hastings Pier is an integral part of our heritage and the council and the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust have been working closely together to ensure that it has a sustainable future.

“We already have the necessary planning and listed building consents in place for the works, and shortly expect to conclude a legal agreement with the trust.

“We hope the new pier will be better repaired.

“There will be opportunities for commercially viable businesses to open there.”

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