Is what's left of the 'West Pier' worth saving?

[Gilliver's Travels]

In a real sense, it's become some kind of extraordinarily beautiful Acropolis for Brighton. One wonders at the value of our city's burgeoning West Pier souvenir industry.

But, equally, it's a shocking monument to bureaucratic indecision.

It's still astonishing that no-one's ever been nabbed for what was most unlikely to have been spontaneous combustion. How hard must it be to get a huge rotting, sodden structure like that to blaze up as spectacularly as it did?

 

[Hillian1]

Sad sight that is now. I vividly remember being taken on the Pier as a child by my Grand Dad.

Having never lived in Brighton I only see it on rare occasions, if it goes I will miss it.

 

[maltaseagull]

They should have done something about it in the 70s before it got too expensive to fix. Now only a replica can be built and that is not really worth it. Get Rid there is still the Palace Pier (AKA Brighton Pier)

 

[Rugrat]

Best to just leave it now and let the sea reclaim it.

In current conditions that could be by the end of the weekend!

 

[Pavilionaire]

I'm somewhere between 'leave as is' and 'tear it down'. I can see the argument for retaining the skeleton while it has some sort of form and charm, but once that goes and enough falls into the sea to render it an undoubted eyesore it would be better if the remaining structure was removed from sight.

In an ideal world there would be a replacement structure that would incorporate some of the key design features in keeping with the rest of the architecture on the sea front. Whether or not that is economically viable I don't know.

 

[sir_gullahad]

It's a shame that it has been allowed to decay in this manner. Now that it has it should go. Attempting to rebrand it as a landmark/work of art smacks of desperation.

 

[Rugrat]

The structure must be a lot weaker as a result of this collapse, I can see it being nothing more than an artificial reef by the end of this spell of bad weather.

Sad.

It is sad. It was all over for the West Pier 10 years ago and unless it represents a hazard (quite likely though) it should just die naturally imo

 

[Vegas Seagull]

It's a shame that it has been allowed to decay in this manner. Now that it has it should go. Attempting to rebrand it as a landmark/work of art smacks of desperation.

Why don't you offer the £100k to dismantle it...if not why should anyone else pay?

 

[The Large One]

This subject matter is currently trending on Twitter.

Oh, nothing, just saying.

 

[The Large One]

Interesting - well, mildly interesting - state of affairs when considering the future of the 'West Pier'...

NSC / Arsegas
Rebuild it - 21% / 38%
Leave it - 56% / 40%
Demolish it - 22% / 22%

... which says something. Not sure what, though.

 

[Westdene Wonder]

The Black Rock Bathing Pool,The Ice Stadium now The West Pier, what will be the next Attraction to be allowed to disappear,Your suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[Oscar]

The Black Rock Bathing Pool,The Ice Stadium now The West Pier, what will be the next Attraction to be allowed to disappear,Your suggestions will be appreciated.

Volks Railway.

 

[Trigger]

Won't somebody please think of the starlings!

 

[GT49er]

Sadly, I think it's too far gone for redemption now. Best demolish it for scrap before it becomes a real hazard. Shame though.

 

[dougdeep]

Which team were we playing when it caught fire?

 

[KZNSeagull]

Didn't a ship smack into it at some point?

Great shame, but amazing how it has just been left all these years

 

[Hamilton]

In current conditions that could be by the end of the weekend!

I hear another bit has just fallen off, so looks like you'll be right.

Waste now. The opportunity is long since passed.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Which team were we playing when it caught fire?

We were playing Wimbledon when the Palace Pier had a fire. The West Pier burned down a few weeks later and I don't think we were playing anyone at the time.

 

[Geestar]

Love it...icon!

 

[Garage_Doors]

Did a part of it fall away today, heard someone today saying something to this affect.