Pledge to seek funds to restore Bognor Pier

Cllr Gill Brown, the leader of Arun District Council, said she was happy to explore if the 45m fund to help buildings of cultural and heritage importance to seaside towns could be used for the landmark.

The prospect of the money being available was raised by pier enthusiast and councillor Paul Wells in last week's Observer.

The need to ensure the pier survives was highlighted three weeks ago when some 80ft of its seaward end had to be pulled down because of safety concerns.

This has left the pier, a grade two listed building from 1865, about 350ft long, measuring little more than a third of its original 1,000ft length.

The pier has been owned by John Ayers since 1996. He has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on repairs but the effect of the tides and weather proved too much for the exposed area away from the safe landward end with its nightclub and amusement arcade.

"I am happy to work with Paul Wells to find out about this new government funding," Cllr Mrs Brown said. "There is no harm in investigating it.

"We have tried twice before and it wasn't forthcoming and we can only try again.

"I made it quite clear there would be no money from the council available.

"I would also need the complete agreement of the pier owner that he was happy to play his part in the restoration of the pier away from its commercial side."

Cllr Wells was this weekmaking arrangements for the meeting between Mr Ayers, Cllr Mrs Brown and Bognor town centre developer St Modwen.