Hastings Pier 2 Years On...

OK, I took this photograph yesterday, hence not as sunny as the weather is right now, but with the Coronavirus Crisis and all that's been going on, I hadn't walked by the Pier for a while... Of course, it hasn't been open, even just to let people have socially distanced promenades along it, not that visitors to Hastings seem to give a toss about social distancing, let alone Hastings. Anyway, nothing has happened, although I read on one of the facebook pages that a health & safety assessment was being made recently, also a hint that something interesting may be about to happen...

This blog from 2 years ago suggests that it may have been bought to sell on, and I've made many remarks about how fishy the whole business has been, also suggesting 'stuffed' brown envelopes may have been involved. Well, the 2 years have nearly passed, and I believe Hastings Pier can be sold on soon, not holding my breath...

Apologies about Pirate Day!

Indeed, I said that the Pirate Day celebrations would spread from the Stade to the Pier yesterday, sadly, the new owner of the Pier had arranged nothing, except to fly 4 skull & crossbone flags from the Deck (which is still not in use!), cancelling all else that was in the 2018 programme (most events ended up in the town centre, cheers!).

Oh well, better luck next year Mr Gulzar, I thought that one of the reasons you had been given Hastings Pier so abruptly by the administrators and the Heritage Lottery Fund was because it meant you could use the potential of summer takings, shame you weren't ready and appear to have no plans, and now the deal smells even fishier!

Hastings Pier Sold & Closed!?! And Online Petition...

Hastings Pier this Lunchtime, CLOSED!

I've been away over the weekend, and guess what happened, indeed, Hastings Pier was sold to the owner of Eastbourne Pier, Mr Gulzar, a businessman who doesn't appear to be too successful when taking note of comments about the other Pier miles over from our west side! Even more worrying is that he doesn't appear to have any plans about what to do with it, he got it for less money than Friends of Hastings Pier were prepared to pay, reported to be a mere £50,000, for a pier that has had £14 million or so from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and, again it is reported, that he can sell it after 2 years... it doesn't look too promising does it, but it does look suspicious!?!

I've regularly reported about Friends of Hastings Pier, who actually do have a plan, and today I read Jess Steele's excellent explanation of funding 'How the Money Works' (link), which is well worth the read, please don't have an opinion until you do read it, else you'll not really have an informed opinion! I'm guessing there will be some sort of demonstration tomorrow, because the Pier is reported to be reopening tomorrow (Tuesday 19th June), presumably with labour coming in from Eastbourne? 

In the meantime, there is an online petition 'Why have the Heritage Lottery Fund sold Hastings Pier?' (link) to sign, if you, like me, believe what has happened to be very suspicious, consequently it really does need to be investigated by someone in authority, surely?!? Whatever, watch this space, there's something fishy going on...

And I've not even mentioned shareholders being ignored and getting no recompense, supporters buying planks and making donations, etc etc...

Here is the Heritage Lottery Fund Statement.