People Power won the day on Monday 1st Feb when the Council cabinet finally bowed to popular pressure and reversed its policy on the Pier.

After months of scare stories (see below) and obstinate refusal even to look at the proposals of the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust for a Compulsory Purchase Order, HBC have now approved in principle the plan to buy the pier and will liaise with the Trust “to ensure that they are assisted in drawing down public funding to produce fuller business plans and technical appraisals that might support their future restoration and use of the pier”.

Trustee Lesley Davis explains: “What this means is that the Council have cautiously started action towards the legal process of Compulsory Purchase. It is still early days and there is a large amount of work to be done but it does mean that we can start dealing with funders on a more meaningful basis, specifically gaining initial feasibility funding to appraise the angineering, architecture and business plans. A good and positive start to 2010.”

HPWRT have run a magnificent campaign coupled with solid background work and research to get past this milestone. Well done!

See also details of their new base at Arthur Greens: New Venues News in Hot Spots

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