Owners of Grade ll* listed pier issued with repairs notice

The owners of Western-super-Mare's Birnbeck Pier have been issued with a repairs notice by North Somerset Council.

Working with Historic England, the council issued a notice to the owners to fix the pier, having "exhausted all other options".

Birnbeck Pier was bought by private owner CNM Estates in 2014, following the collapse of Urban Splash's plans to repair the site. In 2015, it was listed by the Victorian Society among its top ten most endangered buildings.

A spokesperson for North Somerset Council said:

The repairs notice compels CNM Estates to improve the condition of the Grade ll* listed pier and gives them a minimum of two months to respond. Failure to do so means the council will agree a future course of action with the relevant parties.

The Birnbeck Restoration Trust has advocated the repair of the pier since 2004, but has struggled to raise sufficient funds and support.

Built between 1864 and 1867, the pier was once a centre of entertainment in its heyday, with a funfair including a shooting gallery, a merry-go-round and other attractions.

Since the 1980s, Birnbeck Pier has become increasingly derelict. In 2015, the RNLI had to move away from their launch site on Birnbeck Island and last year, the RLNI were repeatedly called out to rescue stranded walkers who had crossed the pier.

Owners CNM Estates were unavailable for comment at the time of publication.