29/07/2008 09:36:00
The owners of the Grand Pier at Weston-super-Mare have pledged to rebuild the 104-year-old structure after it was destroyed in a fierce blaze on Monday.
The fire, which is believed to have begun when a deep fat fryer caught alight in its kitchens, has reduced the popular Somerset tourist attraction to its basic structural foundations.
For many, it's an echo of the fire that ravaged Weston-super-Mare's Grand Pier in 1930, from which it took three years to recover and reopen to the public.
In a press conference held yesterday, pier-owner Kerry Michael told reporters that he considered himself a 'custodian' of the Grand Pier for future generations.
He said: "For this tragic event to have taken place on our watch is truly devastating. I feel sorry for our dedicated staff many of whom have been on the pier all their working lives.
"We will work tirelessly to restore this magnificent structure to its former glory."
The Grand Pier at Weston-super-Mare was first opened in 1904, offering another seaside attraction for the tourists that flocked to Birnbeck Pier in south west England every summer.
Now a Grade II listed building, the pier recently underwent a £1 million renovation, through which a new go-kart track and revamped bar were installed.
Weston-super-Mare's entire seafront is currently undergoing a £28 million development, with Birnbeck Pier also gearing up for a revival.
Following the blaze, locals have been mourning the loss of their town's most iconic feature. According to The Times, Weston-super-Mare mayor, Andrew Horler, said: "This is a real blow for Weston. It's an iconic, beautiful building. The Grand Pier represents Weston."
Mr Michael, who bought the Grand Pier in February 2008, stressed that he would not rest until the Grand Pier returned to "its former glory".
