The National Lottery has awarded £10 million of funding for the restoration of the 160 year old Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super Mare in Somerset
Weston-super-Mare’s iconic but dilapidated pier is set for a dramatic £10 million revamp thanks to the National Lottery, reinstating its status as a beloved jewel of the Somerset coastline. The historic 160 year old Birnbeck Pier, which has been teetering on the brink of collapse after falling into serious disrepair, is finally receiving the TLC it desperately needs.
Residents and tourists have looked on in despair as the pier, once an emblem of the towns seaside charm, has suffered neglect, but now its all change with this substantial injection from lottery funds. Birnbeck Pier is not just any old pier; it’s a piece of history that connects Britains mainland to the small island of Birnbeck and has been sorely missed by Midlands day-trippers yearning for a bit of coastal escapade.
Closed for three decades, the planned works will breathe new life into this unique structure, enabling public access once more to the only UK pier that reaches out to an island, reports the Express.
The restoration news has been met with open arms, especially by Westons mayor John Crockford-Hawley, who reminisced to the Guardian about his youthful adventures: “I’m old enough to remember when it was in full fling. As a young teenager, my mum would give me and my friends sandwiches and off we’d go on a paddle steamer. We’d go cruising around the channel or down to Ilfracombe. It was all great fun.”
The announcement has serendipitously coincided with the exact anniversary of the laying of the pier’s foundation stone on 28 October, 1864, marking a new chapter in its storied existence.
North Somerset Council has ambitious plans to ‘reopen the pier and support the wider regeneration of Weston’, with restoration efforts set to kick off in 2025. Councillor Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset Council, expressed his gratitude for the significant £10 million funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
He said: “£10 million is a significant amount of money we are so grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their ongoing support of our project to restore Birnbeck Pier,” He also thanked National Lottery players, stating that the project “I must also acknowledge and thank National Lottery players as this simply wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
Eilish McGuinness, chief executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, spoke about the impact of the funding, saying it will bring the pier ‘back from the brink of loss’, ensuring its rich history is ‘preserved’ for future generations. She added: “We are proud to be part of this transformative project, which promises to enhance and regenerate the cultural and economic landscape of the area, provide local employment opportunities and be a source of pride and enjoyment for generations to come”.