Eastbourne was rebuilt after a fire in the 70's....like ours in Southsea (South Parade Pier) that was burnt down during the filming of Tommy (The Who). Ours is now shut...it was neglected and deemed dangerous! TBH when I saw the shot of Eastbourne on the TV I thought it was ours...as it's an arson attack waiting to happen!
I just hope that when it's rebuilt they don't do to it what they did to ours! We had a great theatre ...a load of top 70's bands played there as well as the summer season shows...they put back a large amusement arcade instead ....and a crummy bar! We are desperately hoping that a trust will manage to get control of it as the present owners don't give a damn. The council is talking about compulsory purchase if not! We should not let these wonderful Victorian constructions vanish or rot into the sea. Brighton's got a splendid pier but their West Pier is still an iron hulk after several fires and storm damage....there is still hope it will have some proper restoration when the i360 is built but there is opposition from the Royal Pier.and other local attractions.
So many of these piers have gone...fire and the big storms....Margate, Hastings, Shanklin, Skegness to name a few! With dwindling tourism most are lost forever as there is no financial return! Heritage means very little where piers are concerned. Southsea has lost most of the hotels and guest houses that made it a top resort until the package holiday market took off in the 70's. I went for a swim the other day on a beach that would be packed with holidaymakers and locals with barely room to lay a towel and people racing to get a discarded deckchair, back in the 50/60s when I was a kid....there were about 50 people I could see...SAD! As for our pier...I think it might end up like the old Savoy Ballroom opposite...it became a nightclub called Nero's, casino Tiberius as well as the notorious Joanna's (most RN and RM will remember it!!!) ....it was bought up by the evil Harry Redknapp who demolished the lot (after arson attacks) to build luxury flats...that never got built because he didn't want to have to build any 'affordable' homes which was a condition of planning...boring retirement homes and a Co-op are now planned! I hope that our pier and Eastbourne's will survive....but I have my doubts that they will....even the structurally sound Clarence Pier and funfair at the other end of our prom are doomed!
Fortune may favour the Brave...but...eBay favours the Buyer!
A lot of piers have gone that way over the years and few have been rebuilt.
