Colwyn Bay Victoria Pier including pictures from October 2008

Colwyn Bay Victoria Pier

Featuring pictures of the Pier in October 2008.

Watch this programme about a year in the life of Colwyn Bay Pier here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00g1vgj/Pier_Pressure/

Latest News:

Hello there!

You may have been wondering what is happening with Colwyn Bay Pier... well, it is rather complicated to explain in just a few words, but in very simple terms, Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) made untrue claims to the Courts in order to make me bankrupt and thus close the pier down. Myself and my lawyers are working hard on the situation, but it takes time to go through all the legal processes. CCBC are now under investigation by various official bodies, including CID, for a number of serious civil and criminal offences. CCBC are due in court in February, for the first of probably many cases that will be brought against them in this utterly outrageous case.

Since October 2007, BBC Wales have been filming a documentary about a year in the life of the pier, and the challenges I face trying to restore and improve the facilities, whilst battling against the corrupt council.

The film "Pier Pressure" goes out on BBC 2 Wales and BBC 2W on Thursday 11th December at 7.30pm.

You are invited to a special free preview public screening tomorrow night (Tuesday 9th) at 7pm at The Interchange (also known as Sure Hope Church) at 317, Abergele Road, Old Colwyn, LL29 9YF. After the screening there will be a question and answer session with the BBC programme makers and the people featured in the film, including me, obviously!

Anyway, I hope you will manage to catch the film one way or another.

I will be updating the website shortly including a bit more detail on the legal battle with CCBC, and I may even start naming and shaming the individuals responsible at CCBC who have broken the law. I also intend to start publishing some of the damning internal council documents I have now managed to get my hands on... the local council tax payers can then see for themselves just what kinds of things they get up to at the council.

A number of people are getting together to start a new fund-raising and pressure group to support re-opening and restoration of the pier. If you are interested in getting involved in any way, have some fund-raising ideas or whatever, please let me know and I'll put you all in touch.

The pier will be open again in 2009, unless Hollywood comes knocking on my door, of course...

Regards,

Steve Hunt

Victoria Pier, Colwyn Bay

Colwyn Bay pier owner will not sell landmark for £1

Sep 4 2008 by Richard Evans, North Wales Weekly News

The owner of Colwyn Bay pier has told the council: “You’re not getting the pier for a pound!”

A public meeting was held to discuss the future of the Victoria Pier following the structure’s owner Steve Hunt being declared bankrupt on July 17 after failing to pay council tax and business rates amounting to £5,145. But Mr Hunt has instructed lawyers to seek to annul the bankruptcy, claiming he has been billed incorrectly and has made a number of unsuccessful applications to do so.

Addressing the town council this week Clwyd West MP David Jones called for a public meeting on the matter at the end of the month and said it was important the pier’s future was safeguarded as a matter of national heritage. Mr Jones drew parallels to the success had by Bangor Pier, which faced demolition but was then bought by the city council for a nominal fee and reopened in 1988 following community support and funding.

The MP also claimed Mr Hunt’s repeated applications to get his bankruptcy annulled was stalling any move to save the pier. But Steve Hunt, who wasn’t at the council meeting, has vowed not to lose control of the structure despite Manchester-based creditor Royce Peeling Green managing his assets. “The council will not be getting the pier for £1. The council have been plotting this for years,” he claimed.

David Jones said it was only when Mr Hunt had accepted defeat and stopped submitting applications to have the bankruptcy annulled that the future of the pier could be sorted out. The MP said in its current state Victoria Pier may be a negative asset. “There comes a point when applications need to stop being made,” said Mr Jones. “I think when we arrive at that point it is a tremendous asset.

Unfortunately in the present condition it can’t be said to be an asset at all. The pier is sticking out like a sore thumb in the sea. “There should be a public meeting in this town. I feel the pier is an issue that has run for very many years.” Cllr Chris Perry feared that in the meantime the pier may not be structurally safe.

“People walk on that pier and very soon it is going to be a health safety issue,” he said. “We’ve got autumn approaching, high winds and high seas.”

Cllr Gwyn Hughes said a structural report 15 years ago had deemed the pier safe.

A public meeting to discuss the matter is now being arranged for late September. The town council will also hold a special meeting to discuss both the pier and regeneration in October

(Sep 4 2008 by Richard Evans, North Wales Weekly News)