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A Repairs Notice was tied to the pier gates on Tuesday and notices sent to Ravenclaw, calling on them to start work on preserving the structure or hand over the keys to Hastings Borough Council.

Councillor Peter Chowney, lead member for Regeneration, said: “This is the sort of New Year message the owners deserve. They have made no effort whatsoever to repair the pier and now they risk forfeiting it altogether. This is their last chance. The notice effectively means that unless work starts within two months then we will carry out a Compulsory Purchase Order and hand the pier over to the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust (HPWRT). It’s taken a long time to get to this point but thanks to the commitment of Hastings Borough Council and the HPWRT, I am confident that we will soon see our pier renewed and restored.”

The Grade II-listed building was almost destroyed by fire in October, 2010 and faced an uncertain future. Councillors agreed to follow the route of a Compulsory Purchase Order while the HPWRT secured funding of £357, 400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, to get a business plan in place.

Simon Opie, Chief Executive of the HPWRT, said: “The serving of this Repairs Notice and the agreement now in place with the HPWRT signal that the council intends to ensure proper steps are taken to restore the pier. This is a huge boost to the town and a great reward for the efforts of the trustees and everyone who has supported them. It is a Christmas present that they all thoroughly deserve for their courage and determination”

Just 12 months ago the town was trying to come to terms with the shocking scenes of wanton destruction which made national news for all the wrong reasons.

The fire which shook the town, broke out in the early hours of October 5.

It was a dark day in the town’s history but just a year on there appears to be plenty of light at the end of the tunnel.

The pier is moving tantalisingly close to rising again from the ashes as the small group of battle hardened campaigners continue their fight for funding and restoration.

Read More….

The Volunteers, led by Pier Shop Manager, David Francis, will be inviting local businesses to join the likes of Priory Meadow Shopping Centre and the White Rock Hotel to work with the Trust and provide sponsorship through a range of initiatives including fundraising events, advertising banners on the pier, corporate planks, staff volunteer schemes or setting up charitable matching programmes – where employers match any donations made by staff through their pay.

If any local businesses are interested in supporting the Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust, please contact letsdobiz@hpwrt.co.uk or telephone 01424 435587.

The fire which shook our town, broke out in the early hours of 6th October 2010 and happened within 24 hours of the Trust announcing the launch of their RIBA architectural competition and engagement of John Collins as their non-exec director for the People’s Pier Co – the leisure management company to run the commercial aspects needed to raise revenues to sustain the pier.

The tragic events of that evening sought to ruin the chances of regenerating Hastings Pier forever, however, 12 months on, where are the plans to save Hastings Pier?

The Trust engaged dRMM, innovative architects to design the new pier. Since this time, dRMM have been assisting in the preparations for the compulsory purchase and community consultation sessions with the Trust.

The Trust have secured the initial support from Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the £8.75m renovations costs, but need to deliver the initial development project with their £350k HLF budget and raise £1.1m of funding match to release these funds. Crucial to unlocking the full £8.75m funding is the successful compulsory purchase of the Pier by Hastings Borough Council, a process which has been started already.

The Trust will shortly be announcing the engagement of their new Chief Executive to run the Hastings Pier Group, which includes the People’s Pier Co, as well as the charity which will own the pier on behalf of the people of Hastings and ensure its long term safety through a maintenance management plan.

Archie Lauchlan, a BAFTA award-winning film-maker who resides in Hastings is currently producing a documentary about the pier. Local people have been volunteering, organising fundraisers and raising awareness of the Trusts’ Plans for the Pier.

One such volunteer led project is the Trusts’ new heritage interpretation – a free exhibit on the history and future of Hastings Pier which will be launched by Hastings’ Mayor on Saturday 22nd October 2011 at the Pier Shop on the seafront at White Rock, Hastings.

In order to raise the £1.1m, the Trust have developed fundraising initiatives such as Adopt a Plank and will shortly be launching their Community Share programme which will enable supporters to purchase shares in the People’s Pier Co, which allows them to have a say on future leisure activities on the pier and in the long term, will give them a share in profits generated.

The future has never looked brighter for Hastings Pier since its closure.

To complete an online Expression of Interest for the Community Share programme go to http://hpwrt.co.uk/how-you-can-help/community-share-scheme/ or phone 01424 435587 to request one via the post.

Local large format digital printers, Digital Media Print were so impressed with the young volunteers’ enthusiasm, they donated the museum display units for the project, with a retail value of £1200.

Angela Davis, HPWRT Trustee, said of the volunteers “It has been good to work with two young, talented individuals who are so keen to help the Trust start to build a heritage display for the public.  They have brought a fresh input into the project and it shines through in the panels themselves.  I also wish to thank DMP for their kind donation”.

The exhibit, which will take up permanent residence in the Pier Shop at 34 White Rock, Hastings, is due to be launched by the Mayor on Saturday 22nd October 2011 at 2.30pm.

Two Pendants Designed by Local Fine Jeweller Jane Runchman are to be Exhibited at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery and Will Then Raise Money for Hastings Pier

The pieces have been designed as part of the forthcoming Rooms For Ideas exhibition at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery curated by The Line Up… which will run from November 2011 to January 2012 (http://www.hmag.org.uk/calendar/default.aspx?event=9281).

Bespoke goldsmith Jane Runchman was fascinated by the history of Hastings Pier and St.Leonards Bathing Pool as well loved landmarks in our local history. After interviewing people who used to use the Bathing Pool and overhearing many conversations after the fire on Hastings Pier in October 2010 it was clear how well loved both places were and how many fond memories they had created for those who were lucky enough to have used them. Both had been special places of social gathering which elevated peoples’ experience of our Sussex coastline. The two pendants she has designed are a result of these conversations and try to convey the precious places they were – and can be again in the case of Hastings Pier.

Both pieces of jewellery are unique and will be handmade in London’s Hatton Garden using fine materials; 18 carat gold, diamonds, emeralds, rubellite and aquamarine. The piece inspired by St.Leonards Bathing Pool is being offered for sale now at a discounted price of £2,750 (retail value £3,600) to supporters of Hastings Pier and will raise money for both pieces to be made. The piece inspired by Hastings Pier will be sold after the exhibition to raise money for The Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust. Please find drawings and details of both pieces in the PDFS below.

Jane Runchman Hastings Pier PDF
Jane Runchman St Leonards Baths
Jane Runchman Jewellery

Please get in touch with Tina Reid at Hasting Pier and White Rock Trust by Sunday September 25th, if you would like to buy either or both pieces of jewellery.

tina@hpwrt.co.uk
0r tinamrmailbox-pier@yahoo.co.uk

or Jane at www.janerunchman.com
Tel: 07979 376 112

1st Prize £100 Gift card
Sponsored by Priory Meadow Shopping Centre
• It need not be a picture of the pier
• Must be royalty free
• Must be your own work
• Entries by 29th July
• Entries can be sent by email (hi-res please) to info@hpwrt.co.uk.
• All entries will be available to view on our website.

Download the press release here

Development funding of £357,400 has been awarded by HLF to enable the Trust to move to the next stage of its plans before a final decision is made on a full HLF grant of £8.75m.

HPWRT’s project involves the heritage-led transformation of the pier by restoring the substructure, deck and railings; and redeveloping the above deck. A restoration programme will preserve the Eugenius Birch structure, as well as introducing new structural elements. An accompanying education programme will deliver learning opportunities for all ages and include hands-on heritage learning and, in association with Sussex Coast College Hastings, apprenticeships to develop the next generation of pier engineers. Much of this will be run from a purpose-built Heritage Learning Centre on the pier.

The commercial programme involves establishing the People’s Pier Company, a community-shareholder owned management company run by an experienced leisure management team, to manage the pier. The commercial and educational activities will provide employment and volunteering opportunities for Hastings.

By the end of this project, the pier will be structurally sound and a great investment platform for the future, a catalyst for the economic, social and cultural regeneration of Hastings and the British seaside.

This is a great moment to celebrate the ‘dogged persistence’ of the local trust and the wider community over the past five years, especially now that the new Hastings Pier Charity has received charitable status.

This project is a real opportunity for the local community – including residents, businesses, and schools – as well as visitors and supporters from all over the world to continue their great work in helping to save this much-loved structure and reinvent it for future generations.

Angela Davis, HPWRT trustee who led the application said: “We are absolutely delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund is supporting our project. This news strengthens our resolve to continue working with Hastings Borough Council to secure the pier’s ownership so we can deliver the vision of an iconic pier for Hastings.”

Jess Steele, Treasurer, added: “The Battle for Hastings Pier isn’t over yet and the Trust needs your support as much as ever, including raising the essential match funding. So please sign up as a member, sponsor a plank or become a volunteer. As the banner on the People’s Pier says: ‘You Can Save Me!’”

Stuart McLeod, Head of HLF South East, said: “The Heritage Lottery Fund was extremely impressed by the Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust’s ability to mobilise enthusiastic support from the town’s local community for this innovative project. It was evident to us that this was a historic structure that people really cared about. The Trust is right at the start of their journey to fully restore the Pier and we look forward to working closely with them in the coming months as their plans begin to take further shape.”