Another seaside fire!

[EAS]

The newly revamped pier at Weston -super -Mare is on fire:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7528165.stm

[Geoffers]

So very very sad....

[cliffc]

Hi

On the upside in that BBC report thay are saying that the actual pier structure its self is still ok and is not in danger of collapse. So once all the investigations have taken place and the Insurance sorted out, hopefully the new owners can rebuild the buildings and restore the pier to its former glory.

Cliff C

[Zoidstar]

Had the radio on just before 8:00 when I heard a Major fire has broken out on the pier at...

living in Southend all my life you can guess what I thought!

Luckly for Southend but sadly for Weston...

[EAS]

I've posted a link to videos on the Dreamland forum, under the fire thread re Scenic.

So much being destroyed! Horrible!

[Geoffers]

Just watched the lunchtime news... a local councellor, who said he knew the owners "very well", said he knew already that they would do all they could to rebuild, as long as the structure was sound... lets keep our collective fingers crossed!

[EAS]

But the lovely old building all gone - a large chip pan fire!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7528682.stm

There's another but not at all the same:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7446487.stm


http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/west/ser ... pier.shtml

[Geoffers]

What fish shop has chip pans on at 7 in the morning? Very odd... Yet it seems it's how it started..

[uvegotmale2000]

Now this is where lottery funding you should come into play.

I hope they can rebuild the old girl,this is what lottery funding is all about,be nice if they spent it on something people wanted instead of things no-one uses or wants

[EAS]

Lottery fundimg is in very short supply, vast amounts diverted to the Olympics, and unlikely to be spent on what is basically a private property.

Hope it was well insured.

[EAS]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7529611.stm

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 415505.ece

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel ... 416763.ece

[Gary]

I remember very fondly the holidays of my childhood at Breen Sands and Weston-super-Mare circa '71 - '72

I vividly remember paying 5p for a the journey down the pier on the back of a contraption that resembled a speeding "Golf cart" with the wind in my face and I remember thinking what a difference this ride was to the enclosed train ride down Southport Pier - which at the time was one of the slowest pier rides anywhere.

I remember the Helter Skelter inside at the back of the building on the pier and the ghost train and the (Haunted?) House..There were ride ops of course but if I remember correctly none of the rides had people collecting money..you had to put your 5p into a turnstyle to allow you through onto the ride.

I always remember little things like that.

Great memories, great pier and of course a great, great shame.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that somehow, somewhere, someone will rebuild her.

Gary

[mesmoland]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cIrz4aw99a0 I took this video of the ghost train on the Saturday before the fire,so glad now I popped down to Weston before this tragic event ! This video is backwards for extra effect.
I also took a video from the big wheel it could be one of the very last videos before the fire.
http://www.new.facebook.com/video/video ... 2199809785 you will have to add me as a friend on facebook to see this one and the other ghost train video.
http://www.new.facebook.com/video/video ... 2196794785
So sad to think it's gone but great news the supports are in good order and 2/3 of the pier is now open! Just the small task of rebuilding the pavilion !

[EAS]

Great that you took those!

Here's the latest news:

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sec ... 119619&c=1

[EAS]

An update:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7555506.stm