SOUTH PARADE PIER SALE COMPLETED - PIER SOLD #piersaved The new owners South Parade Pier Ltd have completed the purchase of South Parade Pier today and have said that they will continue to work with Portsmouth City Council to ensure that the Pier will be repaired and re-opened to the public in 2015. The new owners exchanged contracts and took full control of the Pier early in 2014 and an emergency repair plan was put into action to save the Pier that had suffered substantial storm damage and unfortunate neglect by the previous owners. In 2010 The News reported that the pier was losing more than £300,000 a year, despite owners Six Piers who took over in 1999 investing more than 2 million pounds on vital structural work and revamping the Albert Tavern and Gaiety Bar. They blamed the popularity of Gunwharf Quays for taking their last bit of trade away. Portsmouth City Council commented that South Parade used to be a thriving establishment but now looks completely dilapidated and that it was not the kind of place most people want to visit The Pier was sold for £275,000 to Frenash ltd, a company run by Fred Nash and David Moore who had every intention of making a success of it, but by 2011, following the sad death of David Moore, ownership passed to SSP South Coast Ltd which now included Dawn Randall (daughter of David Moore). Fred and Dawn did their best to keep the business running but without David Moore at the helm it was far more difficult than they had both imagined and with little money coming in and repair bills mounting up, it was eventually closed for safety reasons in 2012 and was put up for sale at auction but failed to reach the guide price of only £190,000. Fred Nash said No-one starts a business without good intention or invests money in a lost cause, we failed due to unfortunate circumstances and I am pleased that the new owners will bring the Pier back to life and I wish them all the best Donna Jones, leader of Portsmouth City Council said I have visited the pier and observed the extent of the repair works bring carried out by the new owners. There is a lot of very complex work being undertaken. We all want the same thing a repaired, regenerated, thriving South Parade Pier. One of the things the council has to be assured of, due to the building being listed, is the ability of the specialist contractors brought in to carry out repair works. I have been advised from council officers they are satisfied that contractors have the required knowledge to work on such an iconic & complex structure. The surveys have been commissioned properly and are sufficiently comprehensive for a structure of this kind. Ministers are aware of this key strategic site and are also looking at useful ways to help. Im grateful to the new owners for all they are doing to save one of Portsmouths landmark buildings. Shena Mitchell, a former director of The Peoples Pier, an organization of local residents set-up to save the Pier said Lets’ support the new owners as they have done what we could not. The good news is that the new owners have stated that the repair work is on Schedule, I personally could not be more pleased Nick Courtney, founder of the Peoples Plan for Southsea and The South Parade Pier Supporters group said The large majority of nearly 4,000 members have supported the new ownership deal from day one and I see this as great news for our City. There has been some unfair opposition and interference from a Save the Pier organization set-up by retired journalist Leon Reis who would prefer community ownership, but he failed to raise the funds required to purchase the Pier and his continued efforts to sway public opinion against private ownership has been counter productive and has even been rumoured to have put off other potential buyers. I am pleased that the new owners have not buckled under this pressure and that they are receiving the full support of Portsmouth City Council. I hope that all the People of Portsmouth will get behind the new owners as they have already saved the Pier for future generations and this is a great start to the new year After years of doubt, it seems that the future of this much-loved attraction is now finally secured. The new owners have declared their intention is to restore the pier to its former glory, when it was enjoyed by thousands of holiday makers each year. Malcolm Belcher, spokesman for the new owners said: “Our intention is to return the pier to the people of Portsmouth. We remember the pier in its heyday and that’s how we want it to become again. We want music, dancing, restaurants, bingo and amusements – Plenty of fun entertainment that locals will enjoy and which will also attract tourists. We are also interested in what the public want to see on the Pier and have arranged a public consultation via our website at southparadepier.net
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 17:21:09 +0000
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