A pier has been declared a frozen asset, an MP has said.
Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings, Rye and the villages, described the news that Hastings Pier has now become a frozen asset as "the latest in a long list of sagas" since it was bought by hotelier Sheikh Abid Gulzar in 2018.
Mr Gulzar, who also owns Eastbourne Pier, appeared at Lewes Crown Court on March 12 in a private prosecution brought against him by Castle Water.
Mr Gulzar, alongside co-defendant Manasdeep Singh, pleaded not guilty to fraudulently avoiding water bills at hotels in East Sussex.
The two men are charged with ten counts of fraud totalling around £150,000, with a three-week trial expected to take place in November.
UK Land Registry records confirm the court imposed an order preventing Mr Gulzar from selling the pier "except with the consent of Castle Water Limited or under a further order of the court" on March 13.
Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings, Rye and the villages, said her constituents are "rightly concerned" about the "neglected" pier.
She said: "I have long called on Mr Gulzar to publish an independent structural survey about the condition of the pier and I’m still waiting.
"Ultimately, we need to see the pier open and thriving, and I will continue to hold whoever owns the pier to account on behalf of our town."
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In autumn 2025, Mr Gulzar notified Hastings Borough Council of his intention to sell the pier.
Due to the pier's status as an asset of community value, Mr Gulzar was prevented from accepting bids from private buyers for the next six months.
The Friends of Hastings Pier, a community group seeking to bring the landmark back into public ownership, registered their interest and began working on a fresh bid.
However, when the moratorium expired in April, the group revealed that Mr Gulzar was seeking £4 million for the property – a price far above that of their independent valuation or the £60,000 he paid for it.
Mr Gulzar was approached for comment by The Argus.
