Tuesday 20 July 2010

RECYCLING WESTON’S GRAND PIER

Decking salvaged from Weston’s Grand Pier after the fire in July 2008 has been recycled into furniture.

Over 100 benches, 80 full size tables, 320 seats and seating on the new land trains have all been made from the salvaged wood.

The remainder of the wood from the Pier went to Somerset Wood Recycling, a not-for-profit social enterprise, set up early in 2007 to re-use and recycle waste wood. The organisation supports the town by offering employment, training and volunteering opportunities for long term unemployed and those affected by mental illness living in or near Weston-super-Mare.

Somerset Wood Recycling has made a heavy outdoor chair from some of the recycled Pier wood and will present it to Pier owners Kerry and Michelle Michael when the Pier re-opens this summer.

Kerry Michael said: “I am delighted that we have been able to put the wood to some good use. I was very keen for it to be salvaged and recycled. A bit of the old Pier will still be with us as we re-open this summer. Somerset Wood Recycling’s gift of an outdoor chair is much appreciated. I am very pleased the organisation has benefitted from the wood off the Pier”.

MD of Somerset Wood Recycling Tristan Tudor said: “We’re very glad that the Michaels ‘ helped us to secure the wood collections from the Pier. A lot of the wood has been of an amazing quality and it means a lot to us that the wood came from the Pier.

“The chair we will present to the Pier is constructed entirely from old decking and was made by Jeff Conibeer, from the Bourneville Estate in Weston. Jeff came on the project through the Future Jobs Fund after being unemployed. He has produced a really distinctive chair”.

Salvaged wood from the Pier is now being made into benches to be installed all over Weston. More wood from the old Pier will also be on display at The Chocolate Gardens in Bourneville in the form of gazebos, planters and benches.

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