Compulsory purchase plan for pier carries on
COUNCIL and heritage watchdogs have confirmed they are to press ahead with the compulsory purchase of Weston-super-Mare’s Birnbeck Pier – saying its owner has let it “crumble into the sea”.
CNM Estates, headed by businessman Wahid Samady, was ordered by the High Court in December to find a buyer for the pier by January 22.
A new company – Birnbeck Holdings Limited, headed by Mr Samady – was set up by CNM Estates which bought Birnbeck Island and the historic pier.
Bosses at the company say they now intend to start work on repairing and redeveloping the site.
The sale follows a decision by North Somerset Council to issue CNM Estates with a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on the pier in September last year.
The authority had previously made a financial offer to CNM Estates in a bid to avoid going through the lengthy and costly process of applying for a CPO on the pier but this was not accepted.
The council plan is to secure the ownership of the pier then transfer the landmark to the RNLI.
The back-to-back deal would mean the pier is transferred immediately to the RNLI, which wants to return its operations to the island and restore public access.
Despite the sale, both the council and Historic England have stated their “unwavering commitment” to continue with the compulsory purchase of the pier which has been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair.
Leader of North Somerset Council
Cllr Don Davies said: “Despite the recent change of ownership to another company, the pier is still owned by the same individual who’s been in possession of it for the last decade; the same individual who’s allowed this historic jewel to crumble into the sea.
“We continue to be extremely concerned about the perilous state of Birnbeck Pier and we’re unconvinced that the owner has the capacity to undertake the required restoration needed.
“We shall press ahead with the CPO, with the support of Historic England, to bring the RNLI back to the island and restore the pier and public access to this much-loved site.”
Birnbeck Pier is Grade II* listed, with five further Grade II structures and buildings located on the island and the landward end of the site.
The pier was designed by Eugenius Birch, the noted Victorian engineer.
Construction took place between 1862 and 1867, with the foundation stone being laid in 1864 and opening to the public from 1866.
The pier closed to the public for safety reasons in 1994.
Jon Ette, from Historic England, said: “It’s heartbreaking to see a magnificent structure neglected for such a sustained period. Historic England have put Birnbeck on the top of the Heritage at Risk Register, and we will continue to support the council to save the pier from the sea and bring it back to life, with the RNLI.”