Lib Dems Concern Over West Pier Enabling Development

12.00.00am GMT Mon 10th Mar 2003

The West Pier before collapse

Councillor Jenny Barnard-Langston, Liberal Democrat Planning spokesperson has rejected the plans for the St Modwen enabling development at the West Pier.

"We have waited years for the West Pier to be restored and have watched it decay and now listing into the sea. It is a travesty that Labour and Conservative Councillors on the City Council formed an alliance to push through the application that will see the sea views interrupted and open the flood gates for other high rise developments along our sea shore."

"I am not convinced that despite the state of the pier we should accept an inappropriate development proposal to enable its restoration. The height and style of this particular development breaches our local planning policy and will destroy the historical heritage of Regency Square."

"It is not acceptable to restore the pier at any price, we owe it to residents to ensure that we preserve our seafront vista, we should therefore be looking to developments that are below the promenade. In the meantime the pier is falling into the sea and urgent action should be taken to preserve as much of the original as is possible by removing it on to the land for storage."