Hastings Borough Council has welcomed the announcement from the Heritage Lottery Fund ('HLF') that it is supporting the Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust's bid to save Hastings Pier.
Council Leader Cllr Jeremy Birch thanked the local campaigners who have worked so hard in securing this decision. He said :- "This is great news for the town and a huge tribute to the campaigners in the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust who have put some much time and effort into this.
"Now of course the really hard but potentially very exciting work starts.
"HLF have awarded £375 000 to the Trust as the down payment on the full £8.75 million that was asked for. The Trust is expected to use £350 000 to build up a sustainable business plan and a totally convincing project that will then unlock the full award.
"So there has to be a financially convincing plan drawn up to show how the Pier can be managed and maintained in the long-term. There has to be a clear indication that businesses will decide to operate on the Pier to create the income that will pay for the long-term maintenance.
"There has to be a detailed design for what will now be built on top of the listed sub-structure and this has to receive its planning and listed building permission.
"Perhaps even more challenging than all this is the fact that the Pier Trust has to raise 10% of the £8.75 million itself. Hastings has to show it really does want the Pier restored by raising £875 000.
"Hastings Borough Council has earmarked £250 000 as part of this match-funding but there will need to be a lot of sponsored planks to raise the rest. It really is up to local people to do their bit.
"We have already spent around £700 000 on the Pier, clearing the debris and the most dangerous bits of metal and wood after the fire, paying for the architects to prepare the new plans and securing the most vulnerable middle section so there isn’t a collapse before the HLF money can start being spent.
"And of course we have agreed to compulsorily purchase the structure and then to pass its ownership on to the Pier Trust.
"There are still risks and pitfalls. There are certainly big challenges but the HLF’s decision is the best news we could have hoped for and makes the rescue of Hastings Pier a real possibility."
