Fire destroys historic seaside pier

28 July 2008 02:11pm

The Grand Pier at Weston-super-Mare has been destroyed by fire.

Firefighters fought to tackle the flames but they quickly took hold of the partly-wooden structure and within a couple of hours the main pier building was completely wrecked.

Avon Fire and Rescue said there were no reports of any injuries.

When asked if the blaze was believed to be suspicious, a spokeswoman said: "It is obviously a matter which will be referred to by the fire investigators."

The fire is believed to have started in the west tower of the pier, which was opened in 1904.

Chief fire officer Kevin Pearson told BBC News there were deep-fat fryers found in the area of the superstructure, where they believe the fire started.

He said initial reports said the fire appeared to spread from the right-side front turret.

But he emphasised the cause had not been determined and all options were open to the investigation team.

Eyewitnesses said it spread rapidly.

Dee Williams, deputy manager of the Grand Atlantic Hotel, which lies 200 yards from the pier, said: "I am watching it now and I think it is going to collapse. It is an inferno. There will be no pier by tonight.

"There are loud bangs going off, which could be fireworks because there was a display on there recently. The tide is out and I think they are having difficulty getting water to it.

"My night porter spotted the flames at 7.15am. There are lots of people about, watching the fire, and the police have blocked off the road.

"The pier was bought by new owners and done up recently, it is part of our identity and would really affect trade if we were to lose it."

Jacquie Whelan, owner of the Sunfold Hotel on Beach Road, said: "I just looked out of the window about ten minutes ago when I woke up and could not believe what I was seeing.

"It is the most horrendous thing. They are massive red flames, hundreds of feet in the air, all over the pier.

"We are a five-minute walk to the pier, and from where I am standing it just looks like a huge bonfire.

"It is not going to survive."

Donna Hill, senior carer at The Royal Air Forces Association, a respite centre opposite the pier, said: "It is so sad. There are people everywhere and so many are in tears.

"It has just been refurbished. They opened a new go-kart track and a bar inside the pier, and they had only just finished.

"We have had a great few weeks, with all the sunshine, a helicopter day and the music festival T4 On the Beach, but now everybody is in despair.

"There is nothing left of the pier. What else have we got? It was beautiful, it was our landmark."

Andrew Horler, mayor of the seaside town, said the blaze had destroyed the "heartbeat" of Weston.

He told Sky News: "I really, really hope it can be rebuilt - it's pure devastation for the town.

"It provides jobs and and is a massive tourist attraction. I really hope someone is able to rebuild it.

"It is the very heartbeat of this town. And now it's destroyed."

The flames and smoke were visible for miles.

James Kelsey, a chef at Rabaiotti's Cafe on the seafront in Penarth, South Wales, said: "It's a bit misty out there this morning, but you can see a red glow in the sky from here. It's quite obvious."

The pier was recently bought in a multimillion-pound deal by entrepreneurs Michelle and Kerry Michael.

The Michael family had already spent hundreds of thousands of pounds as part of a regeneration of the site, including a new funfair and the go-kart track.

The new owners also planned to open restaurants and offer Victorian-style shows.

A spokesman for Mr Michael said the businessman had cut short a holiday in Spain to fly home to deal with the disaster.

Press officer Nigel Heath said Mr Michael was "absolutely devastated" that the pier he spent £1 million refurbishing was now in ruins.

Mr Michael, who bought the pier in February for an undisclosed sum, is also the managing director of the Weston-based insurance firm Regency Ltd.

Mr Heath said: "Mr Michael is on his way home from Spain. He had only just got there but has cut it short to come back.

"He is absolutely devastated. Mr Michael bought the pier in February and spent around £1 million on it - he's installed a go-kart track, a climbing wall, and fitted a bar for the first time.

"His whole plan was to turn it into a premier tourist attraction, in fact he already had.

"He had a huge personal involvement in the project and was totally committed to it."

Christopher Donkin, manager of Seaquarium aquarium in Marine Parade, some 500 yards from the pier, was alerted to the fire by a colleague as he drove to work.

He said: "Fortunately, we're not in danger, no other properties are in any other danger.

"The fire brigade have put a wall of water along the walkway between the seafront and the end of the pier.

"Traffic this morning was absolutely chock-a-block.

"When I first saw the fire, to be honest my first thoughts were for the livelihoods of people who work here.

"It's Weston's number one attraction. It's full of childhood memories.

"All those people's livelihoods and businesses - where will they go?"

Zina French, general manager at Yates Wine Lodge, said: "The end of the pier is completely engulfed in flames. You can see now that it's already destroyed. You can see the smoke coming from it all over town.

"It's going to be a huge problem as there isn't really much down here without it.

"There are loads of people down here taking photographs of it."

Stephanie Mounsey, from Avon Fire and Rescue, said the pier, which is supported by iron girders, was not at risk of collapse.

Ms Mounsey added: "There is plenty of water on it and things look like they are getting under control.

"We believe the foundations should be safe."

Tory MP for Weston-super-Mare John Penrose said he was "shocked and dismayed" by the scenes at the Grand Pier.

Mr Penrose said: "The Grand Pier is one of the icons of Weston's seafront.

"Anybody who has ever visited the town or lives here permanently has probably strolled along the boardwalk, eating candyfloss, to play on the amusements at the far end.

"Kerry and Michelle Michael have been investing huge amounts of their own time and money into regenerating the pier. This is a tragedy for the town as a whole and for them in particular.

"The only piece of good news is that there are no reports of casualties. At least there is something to be thankful for."

Novelist Lord Archer, who used to work as a cleaner on Weston-super-Mare pier, said: "It was the heart of everything at Weston. It was the focal centre."

He said that his wife Mary also had a holiday job on the pier, selling ice creams, before they were engaged.

"But I am very thankful, at least, that it happened at 7am rather than at 7pm when it would have been crowded, but it is very sad it has happened right in the middle of the tourist season."

He said he spent "far too many pennies" on the pier slot machines when he worked there.

Lord Archer added: "It will take years if it is to be restored to its former glory. If they don't bring it back, Weston will have lost its main attraction. The pier was to Weston what the Tower is to Blackpool."

The whole seafront at Weston-super-Mare is in the middle of a major revamp under a £28 million grant-funded scheme.

The first phase of the project was completed in May, which saw work at Marine Lake, including the rebuilding of the causeway, installing new sluices, replacing steps with ramps and dredging the lake.

Phase Two started in May and includes a "Scour Protection Apron" or "toe" of the sea wall being constructed.

The third phase, which is yet to get under way, was to involve the strengthening of the existing sea wall near the Grand Pier.

The funding came from Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the South West of England Regional Development Agency (South West RDA), the Wessex Regional Flood Defence Committee, and the Joint Local Transport Plan.

The whole seafront enhancement project was expected to be finished by 2010.

© The Press Association