We do not think this is acceptable and we would like as many of our friends to support us by telling the council just how important it is for everyone that our Pier is rebuilt as soon as possible.
Our ambition is to build the best Pier in the world that everyone will want to visit; most importantly a place that people of Weston-super-Mare will be proud of and, in turn, will make Weston-super-Mare one of the best seaside resorts in the UK.
North Somerset Council are now preventing us from achieving our goal, due to the continuous spiralling costs they are demanding.
We now need your help to save your Pier.
An Official Statement from Kerry Michael (Grand Pier co-owner):
“To enable the new pier to open in time for the summer of 2010 we need to appoint a main contractor to build the new pavilion by the end of June. We fear that we will not be in a position to do that because of a hellish battle we are having with North Somerset Council.
The entire pier project is costing £34million and it will undoubtedly bring prosperity to Weston-super-Mare, and is crucial to the town’s future. Our aim is to build the best pier in the world and for Weston-super-Mare to be a major destination for holiday makers, day trippers and locals alike.
But a series of demands from North Somerset Council, and failure to agree terms with them as adjoining land owners have put the project in jeopardy.
Our estimate of the cost of legal fees for concluding agreement with NSC was originally £20,000, but due the continually changing position of the Council that figure has now exceeded £150,000. Additionally, we are no nearer an agreement today than we were when we started.
Despite personally reaching agreement on costs with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council two weeks ago, they have moved the goal posts again, and have come back this week demanding we also pay for a gate in their new splash wall and for a seafront traffic light system - adding more than £100,000 to the costs. This is just not acceptable. We fear that even if we agreed to this as well, they will just keep coming back for more and more as they have been doing for months.
We are being charged rent for the beach we are using to get building materials to the pier as the pier waist is not strong enough and rent for the builders’ compound, also on the beach. The council is trying to make a profit out of this tragedy.
The Council is also asking us to pay land management and licence fees, council legal fees, and even the cost of a council employee to keep tabs on us to make sure we are doing everything properly.
North Somerset claims that it is paying half the cost of our coach stop. The truth is that we agreed to pay for whole cost ourselves - until they told us it also had to be used for deliveries, as a bus stop and in fact, anyone could use it. Instead of us building it as we originally offered, it was agreed that they would build it and we would contribute 50% to reflect the fact that it is not now going to be for our sole use. That is very different to their claims that it is paying half ‘for us’.
The perception is that North Somerset Council is bending over backwards to assist us in the re-building of the pavilion but that is not the reality. We originally feared the planning system and to their credit, planning officers dealt efficiently and diligently with our application and it was processed within the expected timescales. But trying to deal with North Somerset as adjoining land owner has been impossible.
We are desperate to re-build the Pavilion and create something that not only we but the whole town can be proud of. Despite the recession, we have pressed ahead as fast as we possibly could to deliver a World class attraction and create more than 200 jobs in the process. If the Council is demanding all these costs because they are trying to be commercial, they should look at the commercial loss to the area if our plans don’t go ahead.”
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The council seem to be missing the point... the business that the new Pier will generate to the town will be massive, and they will be pocketing all the revenues from the business charges that the local hotels and outlets pay,
ReplyDeleteit's like biting the and that feeds them... come on council stop your bullying tactics and think outside the box.
Westons council is doing a fine job in breaking Weston down bit by bit. Dare i say those two sensitive words which our beloved council wince at when spoken, The Tropicana!!!. How About knightstone island!! i can see the benefit that has brought to Weston, Cant you??. Or even the poorer relation to the ground (no spelling mistake) pier, Birnbeck pier, another success.
ReplyDeleteMaybe some more retirement homes and charity shops are in order as there on a run.
While this council squeezes revenue from every possible source i cant help but think that they beleive they are doing a grand job.
I`m sure that sense of a job well done will be reflected in a princely payrise and an increase in their expenses!!! eeeekkk did i say expenses,and an increase in business and council tax.
The council should stop what they are doing get in a big circle all facing one direction (im sure some will argue about that, and then have a meeting..blah..blah) and kick each other up the backside until they understand that weston is not about THEM its about us and about the people, and business`s, that have invested heavily with time and money,blood,sweat and an awful lot of tears.
I wish the michael family all the luck. all the best Andy Wanstall
OMG Who are these people at NSC! It looks as if they have a hidden agenda. A public meeting should be called for so they can answer to these comments. I hope the residents of Weston, (I used to be one), rise up & demand that the project goes ahead. The eyes of the World watched in horror as The Pier burned down & is now watching its rebuiding progress. Whatever must they think. Come on NSC look at the bigger picture & think of all the visitors Weston will welcome when the pier is completed. Weston is looking pretty sorry for itself with The Tropicana & Knightstone & Birnbeck. Don't add to it.
ReplyDeleteThere just aren't words, I completley agree with the previous comments. What on earth are they playing at? Is it all about lining their pockets in the short term (probably before they retire?) rather than seeing the big picture...but then after all the discussion around MP's expenses should we be surprised that a local council are getting in on the act and doing things nobody else could get away with! If they're not careful they'll lose the pier and with it all the tourists!
ReplyDeleteI too am speachless about the council's demands, delays and general un-coperative behavier. I don't know why ever we thought there would - just for once - be something good come from them, like reasonable behavier!
ReplyDeleteThis is a challenge to the people of Weston. Are we going to allow the local Council to stand in the way of THE biggest opportunity for the regeneration of this town for one hundred years? Are we going to allow them to fail us just as they, and their predecessors, failed us in relation to The Tropicana, Knightstone Island, the Old Pier, and so much more? I certainly hope not.
ReplyDeletewat the hell are they playing at? are they completely stupid?? the sooner the pier is built, the sooner the tourist industry picks up. It will provide loads of jobs and will bring huge amounts of money to the town. the council really need to have a good look at what they're trying to do and sort themselves out
ReplyDeleteI left Weston after 25 years living there and I am completely disgusted by NSC. They have ruined the town I grew up in and quite frankly I think the lot of them should be kicked out and replaced by those who actually care about the town. It's a damned disgrace.
ReplyDelete