Free entry for pier's re-opening

Part of the pier will reopen to the public on Saturday

The restoration of a pier will move a step closer this weekend when visitors will be able to take a walk inside its gates.

Part of the Victoria pier in Colwyn Bay will re-open at 0900 GMT on Saturday.

New owner Steve Hunt hopes the cafe and amusement arcade's opening will see much-needed cash starting to roll in to fund vital work.

It was quite a building in its heyday and the pier is certainly worthy of saving Steve Hunt

Fishermen will also be able to walk further along the Grade II listed pier but parts of the walkway are restricted.

"It is free admission to the pier and people can have a bite to eat," he said.

"A few people have been trying to get in by rattling the gates."

Mr Hunt took over the 104-year-old pier last month.

Despite a 2001 survey which said the pier needed £2.6m of restorative work, Mr Hunt reckons the true cost could be nearer £4m.

"Going on those figures and that costs always go up as well as deterioration, it could be £3-£4m," said Mr Hunt.

"That's assuming I spend that today.

"There's a lot of hard work ahead but I am hoping to start trading on the pier and I want to get anything open as quickly as possible."

Chilly start

Mr Hunt's first night at his new home on the pier on New Year's Eve was a cold one.

"It was pretty stormy, very cold and there's no insulation," he said.

Mr Hunt hopes to make the pavilion roof water-tight next.

"It was quite a building in its heyday and the pier is certainly worthy of saving," he said.

"I would like to restore it to the way it looked when it opened," he added.

The public's appetite for saving old buildings could help the pier's future.

Mr Hunt said he hoped the BBC's Restoration programme has fuelled interest in old crumbling buildings, such as the Victoria pier.

"There's only 54 piers left in the UK, when I get five minutes I'm going to look at the Restoration programme but all the other projects were charity-owned," said Mr Hunt.

Book appeal

Future plans for the pier also include producing a small book in the spring about its history.

Mr Hunt is appealing to anyone who has old photos or show programmes to get in touch for his project.

Recent visitors to the pier have included Mr Hunt's parents, but he said his family thought he was mad for taking on such a project.

"They came to have a look at it, they were slightly pleased - it's not quite as bad as it looks and they can see the potential," he said.

He added: "I've always wanted a pier. When I was young I wanted a fairground, an amusement arcade and a pier.

"I've had the fairground and the amusement arcade and the pier was third on my shopping list and I've got that now," he said.

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