Sad day for Weston Super

[DJ Frankie]

It's a sad day for us Wetoners, if you havent heard the news, the newly refurb pier in Weston Super Mare has completely burnt down. Pictures can be seen on the bbc website. :( :( :(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/image_galleries/pierburn_gallery.shtml?2

[rob1963]

It's a sad day for us Wetoners, if you havent heard the news, the newly refurb pier in Weston Super Mare has completely burnt down. Pictures can be seen on the bbc website. :( :( :(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/image_galleries/pierburn_gallery.shtml?2

I'm sorry to hear the bad news Frankie.

The pics on that site really bring it home.

:(

[Penfold42]

Another one of these Victorian master pieces to bit the dust.
Sad, very sad......:(

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

Watching this on TV this morning was shocking and very disturbing. So many years of history and so many memories just gone up in smoke.

It was just yesterday when i drove past the pier thinking to myself i must go up and try out the new go kart track and now i never will get the chance. Also the climbing wall that has just been put in the pier. was opened no longer than 2 weeks ago and now its all gone.

I feel sorry for the new owners of the pier who took it over just after Christmas and have already spent over 1million pounds on upgrading this attraction. Including the addition of a new bar, new 200m go kart track, 10m climbing wall, fudge making factory and teddy bear factory as well as many other improvements including seating, painting and the reopening of some of the units at the entrance.

Weston will not be the same without its beloved pier. both us locals and the many tourist we get down here will greatly miss this attraction. I just hope they can rebuild the pier and make it into something bigger and better than it was.

Hopefully we can turn this tragedy and turn it into something good.

[soundtracker]

When I saw the heading I wondered how the word had got around that I was working in Weston on Saturday!!!
However joking aside, as everyone has said, a very sad day indeed!

[Rowleys]

i loved that pair and for many year all most every year i go down there to brean

i will miss it

[soundtracker]

i loved that pair

Ooh Young Man! Nurse... the screens!

[DJ Frankie]

Its very sad indeed, I was on the pier eating ice cream on Saturday and was only saying to the wife that the new owners had made a massive improvment to the pier, it really was a nice place for the tourists.

Im gonna go and have a look this afternoon just to be nosey.

[Rowleys]

yeh i wanna go down and see the mess..

i don;t think it will be rebult

[DJ Frankie]

i don;t think it will be rebult

I think they will have to re-build it as the pier has always been the main tourist attraction in Weston without it the tourist trade will fall in a big way. Lets face it the tourist dont exactly come down to swim in the muddy sea.... :p

[Penfold42]

I think they will have to re-build it as the pier has always been the main tourist attraction in Weston without it the tourist trade will fall in a big way. Lets face it the tourist dont exactly come down to swim in the muddy sea.... :p

How so?

Didn't do it to the West Pier in Brighton....council let it rot.....Ok they do have another - Palace Pier, but that nearly went down the pan......until someone had a bright idea of saving it.

I seem to remember another going up in smoke a few years ago....not sure what happened to that.

I just think it will be too exspensive to re-build......

[djsteve10]

Isn't that where they held T4 on the beach aswell?

[rob1963]

I just think it will be too expensive to re-build......

Wouldn't it have had some kind of insurance though?

:shrug:

[Penfold42]

Wouldn't it have had some kind of insurance though?

:shrug:

Yes ....but something like that would run to at least 8 digits......

...and how fair are insurance companies in coughing up.....:bang: :bang:

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

Wouldn't it have had some kind of insurance though?

:shrug:

That's where the interesting bit starts. The new owners of the pier are millionaires. How did they make all thier cash???

They own the biggest insurance firm in the south west. Regency insurance. The company is worth over 50million.

Their are big rumors around locals down here that it was a scam to get the 100,000 insurance the pier is insured for (under their own insurance company of course). I went go into the facts just yet as i'm still undecided.


Isn't that where they held T4 on the beach aswell?

T4 was held about 1/2 mile south of the pier on the very same beach. Where another event is just finishing.


I think they will have to re-build it as the pier has always been the main tourist attraction in Weston without it the tourist trade will fall in a big way. Lets face it the tourist dont exactly come down to swim in the muddy sea.... :p

Oh they will trust me;)

And could the new pier have a casino on it by anychance;) :cool:


yeh i wanna go down and see the mess..

i don;t think it will be rebult


It really is a mess down there. Tons of scrap metal and the tides bringing in all the burnt wood onto the beach. firefighters have been there or the last 24hrs spraying the remains with water.

There is a police corroding around the pier as their is rumored there is 100's of pound coins under the piers burnt structure (can't see it myself tho)

will be going into town later with my new camera. I'll try and get some photos for you all.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Was only near there recently, planned to go back... guess not :(

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

Update And Photos:) (Better late than never;))

Today part of the pier was reopened to the public after the terrible fire that ripped through the main pavilion. the shore side shops and cafe are now open along with most of the pier walkway up to the pavilion with high barriers and security stopping anyone from accessing the rest of the pier.

As promised here's a few photos i took of the pier and a "before and after" shot.

Notice:

Pic2 and 3: All the flags are in tact both in front and behind the pier with no marking at all and both sets are only a few feet away from the structure. Amazing.

All Pictures: The tall tower standing in the centre of the ride is the famous shoot and drop tower ride that was located inside the pavilion. Some how this managed to remain upright even after the roof had caved in over the ride. That's what you can a sturdy ride.

Enjoy.

[BeerFunk]

It is a terrible shame, but I wonder why a vulnerable wooden structure like that couldn't be finished with a fire proof/resistant coating. Surely it would only cost a few grand? Bit late now though.

[DJ Frankie]

I was down on the pier yesterday and they will only let you walk up to a certain point of the pier, I have never seen so much twisted metal in all my life, it’s such a mess. There was also a car and a contractors van up there which was also burnt out from the fire...Gutted.
I was also shocked to find people were leaving flowers on the pier and by the roadside..... :confused:

There are a load of rumours going around that it was an insurance job, but I cant see it some how surely no one in there right mind would spend a million quid to refurb the pier just to get £100K of insurance back.
The family that run the pier and the insurance company also own off licenses and various shops in town.