West Pier clean-up operation begins

11:24am Tuesday 2nd February 2010 in In Depth By Andy Chiles

The wreckage of the West Pier started to be removed from Brighton beach today.

The West Pier Trust announced the remains of the collapsed concert hall, the part closest to the shore, will be gradually dismantled at low tides over the next two weeks.

The trust, which owns the fire-wrecked pier and its site, said it had to be taken away for health and safety reasons. The main "island" section of the pier will remain untouched.

Trust chief executive Rachel Clark said: "For the last couple of years the concert hall has been resting on the sea bed and it has been quite dangerous. People could climb on it and we would be liable if they got hurt."

A fence has been set up around the site.

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Mary Mears said: "For many, the removal of part of the West Pier will be a sad moment. It’s part of our history and we’ve lived with it for a long time.

"However, time moves on and we welcome the start of work to remove the remains of the old structure."

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Comments(24)

censored says...
11:26am Tue 2 Feb 10

Goodbye, old friend...

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scthetruth says...
11:52am Tue 2 Feb 10

The remains of the truly once wonderful West Pier reflects the true state of the once wonderful B&H and UK. Lying in tatters but also full of undesirables. Alas we have but fond memories. RIP.

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patchamgirl says...
12:14pm Tue 2 Feb 10

awwwwwwwww sad to see this go, even in its current state, looks beautiful on our shores.rip pier wreck.x

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Tambourine Man says...
12:47pm Tue 2 Feb 10

"People could climb on it and we would be liable if they got hurt."
B****y compensation culture!

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fascinator says...
12:47pm Tue 2 Feb 10

it will be sad moment - unlike the removal of Mary Mears, which will be a happy moment

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lorj says...
1:09pm Tue 2 Feb 10

How sad. I love the wreck of the West Pier. Obviously it'd be even better if they could bring it back, but still. Starlings and sunset over the West Pier are part of a famous image of Brighton.

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wiltshire seagull says...
1:28pm Tue 2 Feb 10

censored wrote:
Goodbye, old friend...
Yes indeed, a sad moment for me too. However, unlike many others, I failed to see any real beauty in the rusting stanchions & twisted metal. It does feel like a piece of my past being removed forever, though. What will happen to the main "Island" though? My daughter, (who still lives in Brighton) tells me it has become a Marine Reserve...........

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Surely not says...
2:24pm Tue 2 Feb 10

As I recall the West Pier closed to the public in the autumn of 1975. The period of 34 years which has since passed demonstrates very clearly that the town of Brighton never really wanted it to be restored. The only question which now remains is how the Council will artrange the expensive removal of the seaward end. They will say that it is not their responsibility, but it is "their" town and they have a responsibility to us all. If it isn't removed just what will happen to it? It will never be restored, that remains a nonsense. Yes it is sad, but I am afraid the inactivity in 34 years says it all!

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gunnke says...
2:39pm Tue 2 Feb 10

Forget the sentimental poppycock, the West Pier ruins are an eyesore and an embarrassment to the city of Brighton and Hove. After all these years, there is absolutely zilch chance of the West Pier being restored so BHCC should arrange for a full removal of the remnants of the West Pier. Being cynical, I very much doubt that this will happen as BHCC will cite the following reasons for this not being possible:-
1) Too expensive.
2) Too difficult.
3 Not the Council`s problem or responsibility.

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Bennn says...
3:36pm Tue 2 Feb 10

gunnke wrote:
Forget the sentimental poppycock, the West Pier ruins are an eyesore and an embarrassment to the city of Brighton and Hove. After all these years, there is absolutely zilch chance of the West Pier being restored so BHCC should arrange for a full removal of the remnants of the West Pier. Being cynical, I very much doubt that this will happen as BHCC will cite the following reasons for this not being possible:- 1) Too expensive. 2) Too difficult. 3 Not the Council`s problem or responsibility.
YOU think they are an eyesore, not everyone else. Just type "Brighton" into the search bar on Flickr or Google Images and you will find hundreds of pictures of the ruins of the West Pier. It looks beautiful at sunset or in the winter with all the starlings dancing round it. As the I360 or the Brighton O are never going to get built it is actually our "modern" landmark :-)

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Carlos Roa says...
4:34pm Tue 2 Feb 10

Could we build an sculpture or something like that with the wreckage?

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miasc says...
4:48pm Tue 2 Feb 10

too most people who were born in this town and remember when it was a pier its a sad reminder of what its become. since its demise its only outsiders who think it looks good.

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Stripes says...
4:52pm Tue 2 Feb 10

Can they also take down the 'Island'. Oh yes the 'Island' the larger rustier part of the pier, but we call it the 'Island' because it makes us hang on to the old girl for dear life.

For Gawd's sake, tear the whole thing down and lets get on with life.

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ArthurD says...
6:06pm Tue 2 Feb 10

Just build a new pier.

Do we have to rely upon the Victorians for everything (railways, sewers, piers!)?

Believe it or not there are places in the world that are actually developing instead of being nostalgic (e.g. Singapore, Dubai etc).

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scthetruth says...
6:25pm Tue 2 Feb 10

lorj wrote:
How sad. I love the wreck of the West Pier. Obviously it'd be even better if they could bring it back, but still. Starlings and sunset over the West Pier are part of a famous image of Brighton.
The fact is that sunset over a derelict West Pier is not the "famous" image of Brighton at all.

The West Pier will always be remembered by Brightonians when it was open and used. To visitors the Royal Pavilion, Regency architecture and "one" working pier will always be the hallmark.

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yorkie44 says...
8:33pm Tue 2 Feb 10

fascinator wrote:
it will be sad moment - unlike the removal of Mary Mears, which will be a happy moment
Unfortunately the wreckage she has created won't be so easy to remove.

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tribaleye says...
12:04am Wed 3 Feb 10

Irrespective of it's state, the pier is a Grade I listed structure and requires Listed Building Consent to be removed. I can't see any such application. It is a criminal offence to alter the character or appearance of a listed building without Listed Building Consent ... Not as criminal as letting it fall into such a state of disrepair in the first place.

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tribaleye says...
8:55am Wed 3 Feb 10

This webcam is currently pointed towards the action:

http://www.bbc.co.uk
/southerncounties/co
ntent/webcams/btn_se
afront_webcam.shtml

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Mr. Kipling says...
11:25am Wed 3 Feb 10

I have to admit, I'd like to see it restored just to upset the Nobles who own the Palace Pier.

In fact the fire did them a favour as did anyone think the wood would have been usable? No it saved the expense of removing it. Now the remaining skeleton can be removed they can either put it in store to use as patterns or sell it for and put the funds towards a rebuild or even a new pier that looks like the old one.

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toldsloth says...
1:28pm Wed 3 Feb 10

tribaleye wrote:
This webcam is currently pointed towards the action: http://www.bbc.co.uk /southerncounties/co ntent/webcams/btn_se afront_webcam.shtml
er, no its not:

Last Updated: 22/01/2009 at 10:48

Like so much of Brighton - hasn't been updated in ages........

Personally I think they should put planning in to knock the lot down. Since "somebody" torched it, the chances of getting it restored ranked up there with my chances of getting elected as PM - ie; a fantasy. The amount of money that has been wasted on this process is nothing short of criminal.

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tribaleye says...
1:46pm Wed 3 Feb 10

toldsloth wrote:
tribaleye wrote:
This webcam is currently pointed towards the action: http://www.bbc.co.uk /southerncounties/co ntent/webcams/btn_se afront_webcam.shtml
er, no its not:

Last Updated: 22/01/2009 at 10:48

Like so much of Brighton - hasn't been updated in ages........

Personally I think they should put planning in to knock the lot down. Since "somebody" torched it, the chances of getting it restored ranked up there with my chances of getting elected as PM - ie; a fantasy. The amount of money that has been wasted on this process is nothing short of criminal.
... er, actually yes it is – I just checked and it is updating every 5 minutes. The webcam is usually directed at the Palace Pier. Put "Brighton Seafront webcam" into Google and follow the link for the same webcam view.

Guess they'll put in a retrospective application if it is indeed apparent that they've broken the rules.

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Kiersty says...
3:31pm Wed 3 Feb 10

I despise that this romantic part of our heritage is being dismantled for a tacky banker's back pocket. I hope people boycott the new i360 so that it is dismantled quicker than our beloved pier.

Ode to the i360.

You spin me right round, baby, right round, like a nauseous baby, right round round round,
wondering why you would try to hijack my town,
your glittering promise of tourist frolicks,
flashing the cash-in by fat cats funding their Dubai-crunched egos?

And the **** that depicts the nonsensical commerce,
a Pleasure Beach hauled South with a rainbow kiss?
A fabricated supposed constructive time-bomb,
yet to be splattered with greasy gull crap... take that!

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Seagull John says...
9:31pm Wed 3 Feb 10

When I was a young Brightonian teen in the late 60's the West Pier was a rubbish has been of a pier compared to it's vibrant brother. Time to rename the Palace Pier by it's proper name now and move on.

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Justinfromwork says...
10:26pm Wed 3 Feb 10

The flaming Health and safety Taliban at it again. The remnants being removed provide a marine habitat on the shoreline which is quite special. It would be enough to put a warning and disclaimer notice up then leave it alone.

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