your comments
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Bri, Conwy
Let's face it, Conwy Council are noted for closing business. It is unlucky that Clwyd Council was disolved and Conwy council gained Colwyn Bay. The whole place has gone down hill since then.
Mon May 11 09:55:28 2009
Ian Bayliss from Rhyl.
I am now chairman of a longstanding organisation in Colwyn, i.e. the model railway club. We desperately need a venue like the pier for local people, clubs and associations to put on events and exhibitions. Venue Cymru which Conwy CBC is constantly protecting is beyond the means of all local people to make use of and hence is rapidly becoming a total waste of £11 million of taxpayers' money.
Tue May 5 15:34:39 2009
Steve Hunt - Victoria Pier Owner
Yes, it was lovely on the Prom over Easter, quite a few people about too, which is nice to see. Very frustrating not being open though. Progress is being made in the legal battle - a Warrant has been issued against the Council, and various investigations by different bodies are continuing. See the Pier Website for more details.
Mon Apr 20 09:26:41 2009
Richard, Colwyn Bay
I was disappointed to see that the pier did not manage to reopen for Easter, as the weather was perfect.
Thu Apr 16 09:28:02 2009
Erin Mae, Bangor
It is heartening to see the support for this structure and its obvious place at the heart of the community. I have noticed, however, that the people with negative comments to make seem to be losing their possibly valid points amid an onslaught of vindictive and nasty messages. Surely the point of debate is to discuss, not to make personal comments. Good luck Steve and all the people involved in helping him restore the Pier. I know it won't happen overnight, but to know that you have played a part in preserving and restoring this country's heritage is a privilege and an honour.
Thu Mar 5 09:26:27 2009
Charlie Powell, Wolverhampton
Such a shame that the pier has had to close and the state which it has been reduced to. There are hundreds of photos of the pier on Flickr, it could be a great beautiful attraction if looked after properly, which would benefit the whole of Colwyn Bay.More people visiting the pier would mean more business for local companies, you would think the local council would bend over backwards to help. All you have to do is look at the successs just down the road in Llandudno where there is one the most beautiful piers in the UK. Why shouldn't Victoria Pier be allowed to do the same for Colwyn Bay?Good luck Steve Hunt, I wish you all the success you can have with the pier.
Thu Mar 5 09:24:45 2009
Frank Weeks. New Zealand.
I lived in Colwyn Bay for a year in 1942 and have fond memories of the pier. I was there again in 1990 and it was in a sorry state but was cheered to learn of Steve's efforts to restore it to it's former glory. There will always be the knockers of such efforts who decry from the sideline but do nothing themselves and I applaud Steve'spersistence in the face of bungling bureaucracy. Keep up the good work and know that you do have much support
Mon Feb 23 09:50:13 2009
Steve Hunt - Victoria Pier Owner
Just a quick update for everyone: The Council lost at court today, and in an almost unprecedented move the court has ordered that the council must disclose all correspondence between the council and its solicitors regarding the bankruptcy action they brought against me. Thanks to all of you for your continued support and interest. Finally it looks as if the legal battle has turned the corner.
Mon Feb 16 09:42:15 2009
Steve Hunt - Victoria Pier Owner
Helen - if the County Council had done to you what they have to me, my tenants and staff, I think you'd be pretty negative about them too. On Friday just gone, the Council lost their application to the court to have the first case against them adjourned by two months, and so the hearing will go ahead this Friday 13th. As for future plans for the pier, watch this space as they say. Now it has been revealed that support is potentially available from the Welsh Assembly, plans that have been sitting on the shelf for ages are being dusted off and will be revealed to the public shortly, inviting constructive comment.
David Jones MP is on the side of regeneration too. I have also had encouraging talks with a representative of the Colwyn Town Council, and will be formally meeting with them soon. The only people actively against me/the pier remain the County Council, who will simply be by-passed.
Tue Feb 10 09:43:38 2009
Helen Mawson Colwyn Bay
Apart from a little added debate on here which is intended to be REALISTIC not negative, the only other thing I see is Mr Hunt being negative about the council and really dwelling on how they are in the wrong. If they are so in the wrong on this, why not really drum up some public support? Get into the shopping centre with some plans of how the pier COULD look, show the people something which could make them proud of their promenade again and ACTIVELY get support from people. ASK for help with painting etc if that is what is needed, maybe people on community service could help?
Sometimes it's hard to visualise how good something COULD be when all you see is a derelict blot on the landscape and an apparent owner who blames everyone but himself for its demise.
Mon Feb 9 10:13:54 2009
Steve Hunt, Pier Owner
The news from the Welsh Assembly is very encouraging indeed. I had a brief meeting with Darren Millar AM on Friday, and I am meeting with David Jones MP this weekend to see if there may be some money available from the CABE scheme too (£45m pledged over 3 years including potentially support for privately owned piers).
Wed Feb 4 15:43:46 2009
David Curtis, Colwyn
It's a pity that debate is seen as negative. You have to have debate to get realistic views. There is good news from Darren Millar AM that the Welsh Assembly Government may be able to support a viable management plan. Now that puts the matter into a new dimension, the big issue is if it is to be restored revamped, whatever you want to call it, it must not drag on for many years. The time frame has to be realistic. That is a realistic viewpoint not negative.
Mon Feb 2 10:55:28 2009
Steve Hunt, Victoria Pier Owner
Thanks to everyone for your continued input. Jan - I have tried calling a truce in the past, the Council did not think my offer was 'worthy of comment' (their own words). Anyway, we had a good turn-out at the meeting on Sunday, and the Arts Society is very positive with ideas for the future. The legal battle continues, but is now gaining pace. For obvious reasons I cannot comment a great deal on those issues here at the moment. The next few weeks are going to be very interesting indeed, so all I can say is keep watching on here, BBC News, and the local papers!
Fri Jan 30 11:22:32 2009
Jan Miller, Holywell
I think it is a great pity that the fate of the Pier seems to be upheld by these squabbles. Please can't you all call a truce and agree to work together to save it before it's too late?
Wed Jan 21 09:23:25 2009
Jexi Flerkov, Leigh, Lancashire
If you were a bank now the government would be throwing money at you. Unfortunately you're not a bank and the government says quietly 'sod off, yer getting nowt'. Keep up the good work for all your visitors.
Tue Jan 20 14:01:31 2009
Rich Hughes, Old Colwyn
Helen-marie, I think it's a real shame that you are making so much effort in being so negative. I don't hear you offering any positive suggestions for the future of the pier and you're not offering to roll your sleeves up to help Mr Hunt out either. If you think the pier looks a mess, why don't go down there and give Mr Hunt a hand to paint it? I intend to do just that when he regains ownership of the pier - are you prepared to do the same?
Mon Jan 19 09:32:48 2009
John, Colwyn Bay
Helen, I don't think you answered my previous question - namely, where would the council get 2 million pounds from to demolish the pier? They just don't have that sort of money - that is reality.
Wed Jan 14 10:40:51 2009
Helen Mawson, Colwyn Bay
With all due respect, you cannot talk for everyone with regard to numbers for or against pier regeneration. I am simply stating reality as I see it. That regeneration is unlikely at the current pace and level of investment, and maybe it's time to look into other, more realistic options. You ask around town - of course people are going to say they are for it! But give them time to think, give them the facts and they would see reality for what it is.
Mon Jan 12 09:49:41 2009
John, Colwyn Bay
Steve Hunt - Don't let a tiny minority of negative people stop you, the people of Colwyn Bay are behind you. I've heard lots of people talking about the Pier Pressure programme around town and they were all positive about you.
Fri Jan 9 10:45:32 2009
Peter Andrews, Colwyn Bay
Have a look at The Heritage Trail website for the history of Colwyn Bay Pier. It was not the council that let it go to ruin, but a succession of owners after the council.
Fri Jan 9 09:57:02 2009
Helen-Marie Mawson
Mr Hunt, To be honest I don't think there is anything left to be restored, the main body of the pier if nothing special, the front part is a horrible 1970s building and, as for the fabulous art deco ceiling, why not auction it off so it can be put somewhere where people can enjoy it?
Thu Jan 8 09:33:10 2009
Stuart Sharp, Sweden
I used to live in the Bay and I worked with the previous owner Mr Paxman on restoring the pier. We put a lot of blood, sweat and sometimes tears into that pier and I can honestly say that it enrages me to see the way the council still act towards the owners of the piers. Good luck to you Steve and don't give up. I'm sure you'll get the pier back to its former glory. The pier should be saved!
Wed Jan 7 13:17:46 2009
Helen Mawson, Colwyn Bay
John ,Colwyn Bay, yes I have walked around Colwyn Bay and Eirias Park etc and think that the council can only do so much.Residents could always help to do something about an area instead of just waiting on the council to do things outside of its duties. Old Colwyn town has done very well to regenerate itself with the help of Old Colwyn East Residents'Association. Perhaps if you have a particular gripe about something in Colwyn Bay you could contact the council, they have response teams which are dispatched when complaints are recieved.And as for who will pay for demolition, if the pier would cost £4 million to regenerate and £2 million to demolish I think the council would have got their three quotes and picked the cheapest by now.
Wed Jan 7 10:12:36 2009
Steve Hunt, Victoria Pier Owner
Helen - If I was the sort of person that gave in that easily, I would never have bought the pier in the first place. You don't give in to corrupt authority just because the going gets tough! If you're lucky enough to have your grandparents around, ask them what they sacrificed in order to stand up to power-crazed officials. Yes, it is a bit of a melodramatic comparison I admit, but the principle is exactly the same. You probably don't know, but the council owned the pier from 1922 until 1968. When they sold the pier, exactly half of the money went to pay off the debts the council had amassed whilst running it - and that was in the days that Colwyn had a booming tourist economy! CCBC can't even manage to fund a few flower beds on the prom, so what makes you think they could manage to restore the pier?
Wed Jan 7 10:11:19 2009
John, Colwyn Bay
Helen Mawson - so who would pay for the demolition of the pier, as it would probably cost anything up to £2 million? And you say the council are 'not that bad' - have you taken a walk around Colwyn Bay lately and looked at the state of the town, promenade, Eirias Park etc?
Tue Jan 6 12:05:01 2009
Helen Mawson, Colwyn Bay
Of course it was good of Mr Hunt to take the pier on and buy it at a time when 'no one else would', but if he hadn't, surely it would have been dealt with way before now by the 'evil' council who are not actually that bad if you pay your bills. I'm sure Mr Curtis would have bought the pier had he a spare couple of million and actually knew he could get the job done fairly quickly. All I know is, I'm 28, and the pier has been in disrepair for the whole of my lifetime. It's going to take a lot more than a few tins of B&Q's finest to get that paintwork back to ! its best. Sometimes, as much as we want something to happen, the time comes to get our head out of the clouds and give in. Mr Hunt, if so many things are against you doing this project, maybe some higher force is telling you something? And no I don't mean the council!
Tue Jan 6 09:36:33 2009
John, Colwyn Bay
Where was Mr Curtis when the pier's previous owner, Mike Paxman, was trying to sell it for a couple of years? At the end of the day, anyone can make negative posts but, as Mr Hunt says, he was the only person that stepped up and bought the pier and worked hard to reopen it. Certainly, things haven't gone to plan but Mr Hunt's efforts deserve full recognition and I feel there is a real groundswell of support for him in the town now.
Fri Jan 2 09:22:57 2009
Steve Hunt - Victoria Pier Owner
Thanks for the continued comments and support! John, yes, the intention for the past summer was to paint up the exterior, or as much as we could easily get to at least! You may have noticed that we started on the Old Colwyn side of the front building, tidying up the decaying lean-to walkway roof and re-boarding and repainting that side of the building... unfortunately just days after work started, we were closed down. Not to worry, things are progressing slowly with the legal process - the Council have been summonsed to court in mid-February, so watch this space as they say!
Mon Dec 29 14:04:24 2008
John Adams, Hinckley, Leics
I read with great interest the comments of David Curtis, obviously delivered with some degree of passion.There is a great degree of logic within the reasoning, but what is the motivation of expressing, so vehemently, obvious facts that, in the way stated, demean greatly, the efforts of the only person who was prepared to take on the project?Steve obviously doesn't have the millions required to complete the job immediately, but he is putting all he has into attempting to achieve an aim.
Mon Dec 29 10:42:03 2008
John, Colwyn Bay
Whilst I do pretty much agree with Steve's comments (and applaud his heroic efforts to save the pier), I wanted to touch upon his comment about spending his limited funds on the inside of the buildings rather than the exterior.I fully take his point, but think spending some money on painting the outside of the shore end building would pay dividends, as (when it was open) many people didn't bother to enter the pier, as they believed it to be closed - there are no signs on the exterior advertising the fact there is a bar, or cafe, or amusements open. I've been inside a few times, spent my money in the bar/cafe/amusements and, Steve's right, it's all looking good inside, but the outside needs also to be in reasonable shape to make people enter the pier in the first place. I'm not talking about spending a lot of money, just a few tins of white paint (ok, quite a few!) and a few simple signs to run along the roof part of each side of the shore end building. That way, people on the prom on both sides of the pier will be able to see what's on offer and head up to spend their money.Hope you don't mind me offering up what I hope is a useful suggestion. Best of luck!
Mon Dec 29 10:39:21 2008
Chris Parcell, Bridlington
There is no easy way to get this restoration project moving but I hope that a bridge can be built between Steve Hunt and the council once the legal issues are dealt with. Whoever's right or wrong they both need to work together, most local councils would be willing to support and encourage such a brave attempt by a local businessman but was Steve seen as a man from out of town who came to make a killing? It's clear Steve has invested a lot of time and money into the pier and deserves another chance to finish the job. Good luck mate!
Mon Dec 29 10:24:11 2008
Steve Hunt, pier owner
Why are the Council happy to see the pier disappear? I have no idea. Virtually every seaside town that does not have a pier wishes it had. Virtually every seaside town that does have a pier does all they possibly can to help save and promote them. All apart from here that is. You would have to ask Conwy County Council yourselves. To answer why I choose to spend MY money on MY pier the way that I do... quite simply with a limited budget everything could not be done overnight. There was a choice to spend money on the outside making it look nice for people walking along the prom, raising their expectations, but then when they got to the rather tired interior they would leave very disappointed and probably not come back.I chose the alternative, which was to spend money refitting the inside so that those who do venture in left on a positive note, in that they had been able to have a nice cup of tea in the new cafe, or whatever. Also you must understand that even if the pier were able to attract public funding for restoration, public funding never pays for the day-to-day running of any historic building. Indeed without a very solid business plan, public funding would never be granted in the first place (I know, as I am deeply involved with a buildings preservation trust that is five years into trying to secure funding to save the most important grade II listed theatre at risk in the whole of the UK).All historic buildings have to be made to pay their way, which often involves unfortunate compromises to their integrity - but still better than losing them altogether. So I consider it more important to try to establish some solid core businesses which will pay a steady rental income into the pier. This steady income then allows access to commercial funding to tackle the bigger restoration jobs.Without a stable income the pier will never survive, regardless of who owns it or who pays to restore it. I more than anyone would love to be able to walk to the end of the pier, but sadly that produces no income. New eating, drinking, entertainment and shopping facilities do produce income, hence they have to be concentrated on first.
Tue Dec 23 09:34:07 2008
Ade Brown, Oxford
This beautiful pier means so much to so many. It has survived fires, vandals and 1960s developers. It takes politicians to really kill our heritage. Power to your elbow Steve. Expose the council wreckers for the cultural vandals they are.
Mon Dec 22 09:52:36 2008
David Curtis
My comments are not being personal about you. I respect you as a person. I see clearly that at the rate that you are going the pier is going to look unpresentable for many years and that concerns me greatly. I would have thought that a timely refurbishment of the pier would have been central to any business plan given the high profile location and rundown nature of the pier. It appears that was not the case.The refurbishment under your regime is set to continue at a snail's pace and I have to query if your work on the ballroom is logical given that the base of the pier is in such a dangerous and unkempt condition.Bearing in mind the overall projected cost of refurbishment and making safe (in the millions of pounds), it is virtually impossible in our lifetime on the profits of a few small businesses.Please don't be offended by my comments, I just want to walk along the promenade without the pier offending my eyes - soon.
Fri Dec 19 11:29:01 2008
Steve Hunt
Mr Curtis, anyone could have bought the pier, it was put up for public auction and very well publicised. I heard about it 200 miles away for a start. I was the only one prepared to spend money and effort on the place - that is the simple fact of the matter. Do you work for the council by chance? If you want to buy the pier, make me an offer. I'll gladly talk to any of these amazing funding bodies that have millions of pounds washing about they are desperate to spend on restoring piers. The fact is they do not exist, unless you know different. Do please enlighten us all of where you think all this money is going to come from.
Thu Dec 18 10:30:57 2008
Mark Collier, London
I visited Colwyn Bay for the first time in twenty years this summer having spent every summer there as a boy. I was shocked and saddened by the condition of the pier but as I walked around below the barnacle encrusted structure (not wearing a hard hat!) I could see that it's still an amazing structure and it brought back many memories.
The people of Colwyn should do everything in their power to get this restored. It's an integral part of their heritage and it might help to regenerate the town - there is little else in the immediate area to attract visitors back.
Thu Dec 18 10:08:12 2008
Katy Walker, Colwyn Bay
Thank goodness that there are passionate people like you about Steve! The council should be ashamed of themselves (I doubt it though). There must be a huge amount of people who have suffered due to incompetence of certain departments of this council. A public inquiry is long overdue.
Wed Dec 17 09:46:48 2008
David Curtis
With regard to the comment from Mr Hunt about Mr Paxman trying to get the pier into the hands of a "not for profit organisation" which could access the necessary funds, my information has it that Mr Paxman was happy to sell to such an organisation, but at his asking price, which was too high.Piers with millions of pounds of repairs required to make them safe and presentable are best left to people able to access the funds.Mr Hunt cannot access the funds and he wants to go his own route of "full restoration" which does not include charitable trusts. As I said in my original post that will take for ever with the rotting pier in people's faces. Now that he is disputing the bankruptcy order it will drag on and on.
Wed Dec 17 09:29:07 2008
Steve Hunt, Victoria Pier Owner
Mr Curtis, the previous owner, Mike Paxman, tried for nearly two years to get the pier into a charitable trust before he finally gave up and put the pier on the open market. At any time the Council, or any charitable trust, or indeed yourself, could have bought it. Due to lack of interest, he eventually put the pier on internet auction site Ebay, which attracted nationwide media coverage. No serious bids were received. After all this effort to try and sell the pier with no success, I was evidently the only person prepared to buy it.
Tue Dec 16 09:32:06 2008
David Curtis, Old Colwyn
If Mr Hunt was really interested in making a difference to Colwyn Bay, he would have handed the pier over to a trust so that funding of the project could have been secured.Instead while Mr Hunt fiddles with bits and bobs of his pier, thousands of visitors and residents have to look at a rotting piece of iron with a very tired pavilion on top.Mr Hunt has been declared bankrupt so the pier is not his to contemplate at present. I know that he is fighting the order, but all that shows is that he is content for the visitors and residents to be confronted with the rotting pier for years to come while he prolongs the issue.I don’t care how beautiful the art deco glass in the roof of the pavilion is, there are shrubs growing out of the roof and smashed windows that are not doing anything to improve the ambience of the area.I read the comments that precede mine and am struck by the happy memories of many people; I too have happy memories of Victoria Pier. Without an investment of one or two million pounds the pier will never be what it needs to be; SAFE. You only have to look at the substructure to know that it requires a lot of expensive TLC.So let us not be diverted by talk of the past, let us look at the reality of today. Put the pier in the hands of a trust and get funding; or knock it down and stop playing games.
Mon Dec 15 09:19:28 2008
Stephanie from Rhos
Why do you keep voting for the people on the council when they continue to make decisions that are not good for the town? Just look at what Llandudno has achieved just a few miles along the coast. Investment across all areas that has brought in the crowds. The only investment in the Bay has been through outside agencies. Volunteers cleaned up the Dingle, the boating lake and made the only visible difference through the sculptures. Good on you Steve down at the pier, keep on fighting.I agree with past comments. Shame on you Colwyn Bay Council, shame on you. I feel a campaign coming on!
Mon Dec 15 09:18:19 2008
Martin King-Sheard, Prestatyn
I was one of the main organisers for the Party on the Pier Juggling Convention - a gathering of nearly 100 jugglers and circus artists from all over the UK who congregated on the pier in June this year. We even held a variety show in the evening in keeping with the heritage of the Pier Pavilion. It was great to be able to make the heart of the pier beat again even if only for one night. It's high time the council backed the redevelopment of the pier and the hard work that Steve is doing.
Fri Dec 12 15:26:05 2008
Cecilia Grundey
I have fond memories of the pier. As a child I lived in Manchester and my parents brought us to North Wales every summer. We always came to the pier at Colwyn Bay. Now that I live locally, I have seen the sad state the pier was in but had no idea of the struggle that poor Steve has been through. Pier Pressure was a wonderful documentary and I certainly hope that Conwy Council is ashamed of its actions. They have done nothing to help and are blocking the attempts of people of goodwill who are trying to make improvements. Well done to you all so far and I really hope that you get the help you need to keep on.
Fri Dec 12 09:05:02 2008
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