The cost of reopening or demolishing an unsafe pier would cost millions of pounds.

Councillors are set to discuss the future of Hastings Pier, which was closed by the council on June 16 last year after it was feared the structure would collapse.

They will look in detail at a report on the findings of a structural survey and a heritage value appraisal of the listed building.

A structural engineer found broken, missing and severely rusted supports when the 13-year-old structure was inspected.

Trusses, which strengthened beams supporting the main route along the pier, were among those affected.

An improvement notice was served on the owners Ravenclaw Investments and its agent Boss Management (UK) in May last year but they failed to comply with it and were fined £40,000 for health and safety breaches.

Ravenclaw undertook load testing when they appealed which caused further structural damage to the pier, according to the report.

Many of the businesses on the pier had to be relocated with the help of Hastings Borough Council.

A report on the pier's structure shows it is at risk of progressive collapse and would be particularly at risk if it was hit by a vessel or affected by extreme storm or tide conditions.

The total cost of making the structure safe and allowing it to reopen would amount to £7,335,000, including £235,000 investment to stop the collapse of the central section, £90,000 of work to the access bridge and £1.22 million work to stop the pier head collapsing.

More than £6 million would be needed for the ongoing maintenance the pier would require over the next ten years, bringing the total cost to £13.6 million.

The consultants who wrote the report were also asked to look at the potential costs of demolishing the pier - about £4 million. But because the pier is a listed building, demolition would require listed building consent.

The council continues to support the pier's costs which come to around £80,000 a year. Its collapse would mean the council would face significant costs in the clear up and safety issues surrounding it.

The Hastings Borough Council cabinet report says: "it appears impossible for the council to shoulder costs on the scale identified in this report and any future report should consider what the appropriate role is for the council in the coming period."

Council spokesman Kevin Boorman said: "Clearly it is up to the councillors to come to a view to a way forward.

"It will take a lot of money to completely repair the pier. What we need to do now, if the council is prepared, is to sit down with all those interested in the pier and work out a way forward. This is a major piece of work.

"This includes the local taxpayer because there is not a bottomless pit of funding as far as the council is concerned."

No one from Ravenclaw was available to comment today.

The report will be discussed on Monday.

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