Bargain price for pier repaired at £12.4m cost

Campaigners have expressed their disappointment after administrators confirmed Hastings Pier has been sold to Abid Gulzar, a business tycoon.

The rebuilt structure reopened two years ago after a fire. But Hastings Pier Charity, which ran the walkway, went into administration, leading to the sale.

The Heritage Lottery Fund granted £12.4million to rebuild it but it is claimed that Mr Gulzar may have bought it for less than £100,000.

Friends of Hastings Pier, which campaigned to keep the pier in public ownership, posted on Twitter: “Very sad to report that the Hastings Pier Charity administrators have flown in the face of public opinion, common sense and business sense.”