No-go area: Hastings pier is expected to remain closed until March.

Come and support the pier!

Supporters of the pier are invited to a community gathering on Saturday morning to “demonstrate that we love Hastings Pier!”The event follows on the announcement that the pier will be closed until March for repair work. Nick Terdre reports, photos by Russell Jacobs.

Pier supporters are asked in Facebook postings to gather on the sea front opposite Warrior Square at 10.30am on Saturday 12th for a “family (and doggy) friendly community event; to celebrate and thank all of the wonderful pier employees of 2018, to show solidarity to the future employees of the pier; to celebrate tourism in Hastings and the potential for the pier to be part of that; to show our love for the pier as an asset for the local community and a tourist attraction. To demonstrate that we love Hastings Pier and that we want it to be an asset to our community, that we don’t want to be shut out of it and prevented from being involved with it. It isn’t merely a business!”

At 10.45, led by a local band, the group will proceed along the seafront to Hastings Pier. At 11.oo participants will form an orderly single-file queue along the promenade starting at the west side of the pier and leading back towards St Leonards.

“Queue to show that you Love Hastings Pier!” say the organisers. There will be music and celebration and an opportunity for photographs. At 11.30 everyone will disperse to nearby cafes to warm up.

Costumes and banners/placards are welcome – a prize will be awarded for the best banner/placard art work by children, and another for the best dressed pier dog.

”Please be aware that this is a family friendly peaceful demonstration of our love for Hastings Pier as an asset of community value. We wish for this event to be positive and celebratory,” the organisers say.

”We will not tolerate: Any abusive or threatening behaviour, placards or banners. Any acts of vandalism, damage to property or criminal activity. The police and council are aware of this event. Stewards will be present throughout.”

According to a posting on the Friends of Hastings Pier Facebook page, they are not the organisers of this event but fully support it.

The pier, which was closed since just before the New Year, is expected to remain closed until March while repairs are carried out following the fire in the restaurant in December.

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