IHBC’s ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Weston’s Birnbeck Pier could have new owner as Council consider CPO

After years of decline, Birnbeck Pier could potentially have a new owner as North Somerset Council will receive a report to authorise the issuing of a compulsory purchase order (CPO) for the grade-II listed pier to the RNLI, reports The Weston Mercury.

The Weston Mercury writes:

This process could take up to 18 months until confirmation is received from the Secretary of State.

The charity previously spent 131 years operating lifeboats from the pier before it left in 2014 due to safety concerns.

Leader of the council, Don Davies, said: “We are delighted that an organisation as professional as the RNLI has decided to step in and potentially take ownership of Birnbeck Pier.

“We have given the owner many opportunities over the years to undertake the necessary repairs needed to preserve the pier, without success, even starting legal action to CPO the site as a last resort.

“This is a fantastic result following a great deal of work from council officers, Historic England and the RNLI.

“Clearly there is a lot of work to do to restore the pier and re-establish the lifeboat station back to its original home.

“We would like to thank Historic England for their ongoing support in securing a future for Birnbeck Pier and look forward to seeing this historic structure reopened to the public, as well as providing vital lifesaving to North Somerset.”

The council’s concern about the deterioration of the pier resulted in the serving of a repairs notice to the private owner, CNM Estates, in September…..

“Weston is a very important search and rescue base for the RNLI but is also a very complex area in which to build a lifeboat station…..

Rebecca Barrett, regional director for Historic England in the South West, added: “This is wonderful news. Birnbeck Pier is one of England’s finest Victorian piers, but it has been on our heritage at risk register for more than 20 years.

“We are delighted that such a promising solution has now come forward. We will continue to work closely with the RNLI, North Somerset Council and other partners to rescue this outstanding and much-loved structure.”

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