Fleetwood Pier Fire

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Fleetwood Pier Fire

Postby Shane » 09 Sep 2008, 11:16

Hello all,

I'm not really a regular poster on here but I thought I'd let you know there has been another Pier Fire. This one is at Fleetwood and is a pier that's been there for many years.

I'm sure people will agree with me it's just awful when you hear about fires such as these on Piers. First it was Weston-super-Mare, then Great Yarmouth Pier, and now Fleetwood. How can these burn down in weather like we have got now? Rain rain rain... And it's only a few weeks later than the last 2 piers which was on fire.

Do you know what I think, I think it's someone going round setting fires to our Piers! - but why would somebody do such a thing?

I hate to think what will be next but I hope it's not Blackpool Piers or Southport Pier.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 714435.ece
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Postby EAS » 09 Sep 2008, 14:22

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Postby kevinashe » 11 Sep 2008, 18:08

eas i havea question for you,has fleetwood pier any historical value that could save it from being demolished in the future.Just thought id ask you because you usually know these sort of things
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Postby EAS » 11 Sep 2008, 20:28

I don't think so - not of great historic /architectural interest, although of course an important part of the town - and most of it has gone now anyhow!


"Fleetwood Pier (originally known as Victoria Pier) was first built in 1910 to a length of 492 feet. It was designed by G. T. Lumb and was supported on iron columns. A pavilion was added in 1911 and there were repairs and improvements in 1930, 1938 and 1946. On August 25th 1952, the pier was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt the following year and described as the 'New Super Pier'. In 1972, it was refurbished at a cost of £70,000. In 1998, it provided a bar, amusement arcade and bingo hall as well as seating along the pier neck and a location for angling."
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Postby kevinashe » 12 Sep 2008, 13:56

looking at the lastest pictures ive seen the main damage seem to be building section,the railing section and end section seem to be ok although the railing section may have timber damage
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Postby Shane » 13 Sep 2008, 00:40

Part of Fleetwood's Pier which was gutted by fire is being demolished, officials have said.

Here is the link to the story, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lanc ... 612905.stm
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Postby dave771 » 13 Sep 2008, 00:44

The story states that a building on the pier is being demolished as it is unsafe but the cast iron columns will remain.
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Postby EAS » 13 Sep 2008, 08:24

From October 2007:

http://www.fleetwoodtoday.co.uk/fleetwo ... 3254229.jp

The record I quoted above is the National Monument Record for the structure, which is unlisted.

http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gatew ... sourceID=2


A Guardian report:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/sep/0 ... tworkfront

National Piers Society:

http://www.piers.co.uk/

Pic of the pier when new:

http://www.piers.co.uk/piersch.htm


Was once very attractive indeed.

August 2007 NPS news:

After a couple of false starts FLEETWOOD pier was eventually sold in April to a local entertainer, Mike Simmons, known professionally as Joey Blower. Mr Simmons said he was looking at redeveloping the site as a hotel, casino or flats, as the existing more traditional format had not worked over the past twenty years. He has now published plans for luxury apartments on the site.


It all sounds so familiar...

While clearly it would be wonderful for the pier to be retained and reused, which sounds still possible if the metal structure is intact, it's a very late pier, nothing very innovative in its materials and structure as far as I can tell (cast iron supports etc) and the fact the original building have long ago gone are probably the reasons it isn't listed.
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Postby mrjimlowe » 14 Sep 2008, 13:12

Hello

Here are some pictures of the emergency demolition work at Fleetwood Pier Sat. 13 Sep 08.

The Steelwork on the area affected by the fire is being taken down and work went on till 9PM

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Jim Lowe

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Postby EAS » 14 Sep 2008, 13:15

Thanks for those. It's all very sad, isn't it? Useful to have that record.
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Postby kevinashe » 14 Sep 2008, 20:03

eas the pier legs and remaining structure are to stay as the pier falls within a protected area and the pier is included in that.It remains to see if mr simmons will walk away or push on with his plans as there is talk or a trust forming to restore the pier
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Postby EAS » 14 Sep 2008, 21:11

Is it in a conservation area?
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Postby kevinashe » 15 Sep 2008, 18:33

yes it is strange eas but the pier is included within the protected area which i guess is the same as a conservation area.Currently waiting to see what wyre council do now,they have given a 6 week order to have the pier safe by.If there any info on groups trying to save the pier or any help you need if you are contacting anybody let me know.Its not the most ornate pier but another one less is too much.Also for anyone interested friends of hastings pier which is recently closed with a flats project hanging over it. go to http://www.friendsofhastingspier.com/ to sign their petition of support
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Postby mrjimlowe » 16 Sep 2008, 19:54

Steps taken to preserve remains of pier

(Fleetwood Weekly News 13/09/08 )

Steps are being taken to preserve what is left of Fleetwood Pier, although public safety will be the key consideration throughout the operation.

With most of the building destroyed and two thirds of the boardwalk burnt away, there are concerns from the public that the entire pier will now be demolished.
However, Wyre Borough Council's building control team and conservation officers will continue to work closely with pier owner Simmo Developments Ltd and demolition experts to ensure that once the immediate danger to the public has been removed, every effort will be made to preserve as much as possible from the original structure.
The gutted building which sat on top of the pier will be removed in the interests of public safety.
The cast iron columns and the concrete section at the end that wasn't damaged by the fire are subject to a conservation order and as such cannot be removed without a planning application. This could be over-ridden if any were found to be unsafe.
Lindsey Templeton, conservation officer from Wyre Borough Council said: "There will be an on-going assessment of these columns to determine their stability.
"The likelihood is that the columns nearest the promenade where the fire was at its most intense will be particularly fragile after being exposed to extreme heat and excess water.
"However, we will not allow any of the columns to be removed until our officers are satisfied that leaving them in place would pose a danger to the public."
Council leader Councillor Russell Forsyth added: "It is far too early to comment on the long-term future of the pier until the site has been cleared. That is something that could take six weeks or more.
"Some dirty and dangerous work has to be done in the weeks ahead and we ask people to appreciate that the number one priority has to be reducing the risk to the public and the contractors themselves.

13 September 2008

From the Fleetwood Weekly News
http://www.fleetwoodtoday.co.uk/fleetwood/Steps-taken-to-preserve-remains.4493021.jp


The pier building was also burned down in the 1950s:

Fleetwood Pier History
Although never an elaborate structure Fleetwood Pier holds a special place in pier history, being the last to be built during the 'golden age' (1860-1910) of pier building. The proposal for a pier had been a long drawn out affair, the original submission by Richard Edmunds being rejected in 1892. G T Lumb submitted a revised proposal some years later, that was eventually approved in 1909. The Fleetwood Victoria Pier Company was formed and set about finding investors to raise the £30,000 required. The original prospectus stating:

.....at the end of the pier will be a bandstand, windscreens, kiosk, sea water swimming baths at all states of the tide, to be constructed on the pier, everything tending to raise our town to the position nature intended it to occupy among the watering places of Britain ..... the town and its people would be enriched by its existence.....

The 492ft (150m) Fleetwood Pier opened the following year on Whit Monday 1910, and was predominantly a wooden landing pier, constructed over iron columns, with some amusements at the shoreward end. A pavilion was constructed in 1911, but initial plans to lengthen the structure were soon abandoned. Fleetwood Pier remained largely unchanged prior to the Second World War. Some additional improvements were made in the 1930s, along with a small cinema in 1942. In 1946, after the cessation of hostilities, arrangements were made to replace the timber decking. The worst chapter in the pier's history was to unfold on 25th August 1952. A disastrous fire that had started in the pier cinema created an inferno that could be seen from twenty miles away. The blaze was to leave the entire structure no more than a mass of tangled smouldering steelwork. Rebuilding work commenced almost immediately enabling Fleetwood Pier to re-open the following year.

Always overshadowed by, and having to compete with, its three well known neighbours only a tram ride away in Blackpool, the pier continued to remain profitable throughout the declining years of the seaside resort, even receiving a £70,000 facelift in 1972. Sadly this was not to remain the case and the pier's owners, Fleetwood Amusements Ltd, eventually closed the pier in 2000, after going into liquidation.

In 2003 the new owners, Persian Leisure, were granted permission to redevelop Fleetwood Pier and by December of the same year it was once again open to the public. Now providing bars, restaurants and entertainment, it is hoped Fleetwood Pier will prove to be financially viable for the foreseeable future.

Date: Not stated

Source: English Heritage Trail Website

http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/piers/fleetwood%20pier.htm
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Jim Lowe

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Postby EAS » 17 Sep 2008, 15:45

It sounds like all that can be done is being done., and the local authority is on the case.
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