Council leader says Hastings Pier fire is "devastating"
The leader of Hastings Borough Council has spoken out about the fire which has destroyed Hastings Pier - calling it "a very sad day for Hastings".
Councillor Jeremy Birch was among the first people on the scene after the fire started at around 1am this morning.
The local Labour leader has been a long-term supporter of the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust and played a key role in finalising plans to compulsory purchase the Victorian structure.
And speaking to the Observer just yards from the inferno, Cllr Birch said: "It looked like the fire could be contained to the last third of the pier but the wind changed and the flames spread and the rest of it went up quickly.
"This is obviously a big blow for the town and the efforts to help the trust re-open the pier - but we will have to wait to see just how big a blow it is."
Cllr Birch confirmed the council would be looking to carry out a detail structural report as soon as the structure was safe and police had gathered any remaining evidence.
Subsequent reports suggest that could be as early as next week - with marine engineers Gifford likely to carry out the survey.
A defiant Cllr Birch said: "We still want to work with the trust and we will do what we can to help but this is a very sad day for Hastings."
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Hastings
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
