Fury as RNLI pulls out of pier restoration plan

THE £25 million restoration of the historic Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare hangs in the balance after the RNLI pulled out of the project yesterday.

- RICHARD BACHE

The shock move from the lifesaving charity sparked outrage and came as North Somerset Council was on the cusp of formally proceeding with the scheme to restore the crumbling pier.

Council leader Mike Bell expressed his shock and astonishment at the decision by the charity to withdraw the £5m funding it had earmarked to restore the Victorian pier so that the RNLI lifeboats could once again launch from it.

Cllr Bell said: "This is a shocking decision that breaks faith with residents, volunteers and everyone who has worked so hard to secure a future for Birnbeck Pier.

"We feel very let down, as I'm sure many residents will too. For the RNLI, one of our critical partners in this project, to pull their support just days before we were looking to award the contract to restore the Birnbeck Pier structure feels like a real abdication of responsibility to our community.