THE project to restore a historic pier in Weston-super-Mare will go ahead after fears it would be cancelled after losing funding.
Just before councillors were set to vote on whether to or not, £5.5million worth of funding has been promised and the plans are set to continue.
Birnbeck Pier is set to be restored with new funding secured
The pier is a one-of-a-kind as it’s located on an island
The Heritage Fund has stepped in to fill the funding gap to restore .
Mark Canniford, council cabinet member responsible for the project, said he was “delighted” to announce the funding, also telling the meeting: “We made a promise to work right up until the last minute.”
This comes after the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) pulled out of the deal in June.
Under the original plans, the would have established a new base on the pier and had raised £5million towards the cost.
But earlier in the year, the RNLI removed its funding due to viability concerns.
It was predicted that councillors would to vote to cancel the project before the surprise funding was announced.
However, the new £5.5million worth of funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will fill the gap meaning plans to restore the derelict pier can go ahead.
in has been closed to the public since 1994.
It’s no ordinary pier either, as it’s the only one in the UK that links the mainland to an island.
When it was open between 1867 and 1994, it had a range of attractions like a Pavilion, a Switchback Railway, mini fairground, a water chute and a roller rink.
There is another pier in the seaside town called the Grand Pier
It was closed after it was deemed unsafe and structurally unsound.
The in Weston-super-Mare is the town’s other pier which officially opened to the public on June 11, 1904 and had an extension the following year.
Visitors can explore the pier for £2, whereas locals can enter for free all year round.
As for entertainment on the , there are lots of rides and on the pier, including the House of Horrors, Freefall and Go Karts.
Throughout the year there are lots of events like Sunset Sessions, Moonlight Beach Walk, Halloween Family Party and firework displays.
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The project to restore Birnbeck Pier will go ahead after cancellation fears 
