A huge fire has destroyed the historic Grand Pier at Weston-super-Mare.

 

Dozens of firefighters fought to tackle the blaze which took hold of the partly wooden pier in the North Somerset seaside resort at about 0700 BST.

 

No-one was injured in the fire, which firefighters said started in an area containing deep fat fryers. Black smoke was visible as far away as Cardiff.

 

The owners, who have recently bought and refurbished the pier, were said to be "absolutely devastated".

 

 

Dee Williams, deputy manager of the Grand Atlantic Hotel, which lies 200 yards from the pier, described the fire as "an inferno" and heard loud bangs which she believed to be fireworks left over from a recent display.

 

"It is part of our identity and would really affect trade if we were to lose it," she said.

 

Jacquie Whelan, owner of Sunfold Hotel on Beach Road, said it was a "horrendous" sight, with massive red flames, hundreds of feet in the air, all over the pier.

 

"[it looked] like a huge bonfire. It is not going to survive," she said.

 

Police have placed a cordon around the pier and beach and advised people to avoid the area.

 

The quarter-of-a-mile-long pier, which attracts thousands of visitors a year, reopened in April after a massive revamp.

 

It first opened in 1904 and was later bought by the Brenner family who sold it earlier this year in a multi-million pound deal to brother and sister Michelle and Kerry Michael.

 

Mr Michael is said to be on his way home from holiday in Spain.

 

"He had only just got there but has cut it short to come back," said his spokesman Nigel Heath.

 

"He is absolutely devastated. Mr Michael bought the pier in February and spent around £1m - he's installed a go-kart track, a climbing wall and fitted a bar for the first time.

 

"His whole plan was to turn it into a premier tourist attraction, in fact he already had.

 

"He had a huge personal involvement in the project and was totally committed to it."

 

Avon Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was well-developed by the time crews arrived and officers had to battle against "intense radiated heat".

 

Chief fire officer Kevin Pearson said: "Indications are that there were some deep fat fryers in the area where we believe the fire first started.

 

"We're fairly clear about where we think the fire first started and obviously our investigations will concentrate on that area."

 

The foundations of the structure, which is supported by iron girders, were said to be sound and not at risk of collapse.

 

Rod Brenner, who owned the pier until six months ago when he sold it to the current owners, said: "I think that what has happened is, fortunately it had a very thick hardwood floor, and I think that has held, from what I can see here.

 

 

"The entire pavilion has gone admittedly, and it'll be obviously a huge project to rebuild it, which will take a considerable amount of time.

 

"I mean, when it burnt down last time, in 1930, it took three years and they probably moved a bit quicker then than we do nowadays."

 

Christopher Donkin, manager of Seaquarium aquarium in Marine Parade, some 500 yards from the pier, was alerted to the fire by a colleague as he drove to work. He said: "Fortunately, we're not in danger, no other properties are in any other danger.

 

"The fire brigade have put a wall of water along the walkway between the seafront and the end of the pier.

 

"Traffic this morning was absolutely chock-a-block.

 

"When I first saw the fire, to be honest my first thoughts were for the livelihoods of people who work here.

 

"It's Weston's number one attraction. It's full of childhood memories.

 

 

"All those people's livelihoods and businesses - where will they go?"

 

Tory MP for Weston-super-Mare John Penrose said he was "shocked and dismayed" by the scenes at the Grand Pier.

 

"The Grand Pier is one of the icons of Weston's seafront," he said.

 

"Anybody who has ever visited the town or lives here permanently has probably strolled along the boardwalk, eating candyfloss, to play on the amusements at the far end.

 

"Kerry and Michelle Michael have been investing huge amounts of their own time and money into regenerating the pier. This is a tragedy for the town as a whole and for them in particular.

 

"The only piece of good news is that there are no reports of casualties. At least there is something to be thankful for."

 

Deputy leader of North Somerset Council, Elfan Ap Rees, said: "The structure going out of the pavilion is intact, the main structure underneath looks reasonably intact.

 

"I am absolutely convinced that the owners of the pier, who are local Weston people born and bred, will make every effort to see the Grand Pier rise again and we will do what we can to support that."

 

 

hmmmmmmm the owner clears off to Spain hours before the fire, the owner is the MD of an insurance company

 

As far as i am concerned I think this is an insurance job so he could claim the money back off insurance company

hmmmmmmm the owner clears off to Spain hours before the fire, the owner is the MD of an insurance company

 

As far as i am concerned I think this is an insurance job so he could claim the money back off insurance company

 

 

 

Thats what i was thinking :o

Edited July 28, 200817 yr by BJBB JonieWonie

I'm devestated, I lived in Weston and I still visit with my mum and dad at least twice a year, lots of my family live there and my Uncle worked on the pier up until last year. It's a great place and it's a tragic loss. WSM used to be a great seaside resort, after a storm destroyed the gardens and then the Tropicanna closed down the pier was all that's left (except the Jill Dando garden and the crazy golf) but I'm really upset and I can't believe this has happened.

I have spent many a happy hour on Weston Pier in my time :(

 

Its shuch a shame so much history has gone.

I've been there a few times, and walked on the pier.

It's such a shame i agree. :(

I just hope the heat of the fire managed to dry out Weston's ghastly mud-flat beach ;) .

 

It is a shame - but Weston really is in dire need of some serious money being spent on it - it's a miserable, dated, tacky old-style seaside resort that's now been swamped with pound shops and gambling arcades - no charm, in fact the only quaint bit of it was the pier....

it was old, it was made of wood, it was recently re-furbished, why tf wasnt there an adequate sprinkler system installed?.. it and others are disasters waiting to happen and i doubt that a new build wouldnt pass safety standards nowdays.

it was old, it was made of wood, it was recently re-furbished, why tf wasnt there an adequate sprinkler system installed?..

 

Read Craig's post mate... All becomes pretty fukkin' clear if you ask me.... Yep, this has "Insurance Job" written all over it.....

 

Inspector Knacker of the Yard should be on the case pronto..... :lol:

I LIVE HERE. I know the owners personally, and it wasnt an insurance job.

 

it was an electrical fault in the cafe under the right tower (incidentally the frame of still stands)

 

It was not made of wood, it was a Perspex/Fibre glass construction (obviously with steel) the wood was removed in 2003 during restoration and replaced with the the fibre glass and was complete for the 100th birthday.

 

I watched in horror myself from 7pm when the fire took hold. I live just up the hill and overlook it and have for the past 26 years, and to wake up to witness the pier on fire wasnt nice. i am extremely upset

hmmmmmmm the owner clears off to Spain hours before the fire, the owner is the MD of an insurance company

 

As far as i am concerned I think this is an insurance job so he could claim the money back off insurance company

Whether your right or worng, I don't know. Such things do bring a question mark to the concept of insurance.

The owner of the pier owns the insurance company that its insured to, so it's not an insurance jobbie is it.

what would the point be ?

 

its been found an electrical fault in the Karts zone of the pier. it overheated at 1am, smouldered away for 5 hours setting alarms off that were unheard,

caught fire at 6.30am, smoke seen at 6.45pm, then the fire really caught hold. the rest was on Sky News.

 

It started not in the tower but in that vacinity, and set the tower alight.

Edited August 13, 200816 yr by peteseaton

1 Year Ago Today - 28th July 2008

 

Then

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesclay/2358860829/sizes/l/

 

1 Year Ago

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29057987@N03/...600076/sizes/l/

 

Now

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesclay/3268519231/sizes/l/