Demolition “not Town Council's affair”

LYTHAM PIER: STILL A DEADLOCK

ALTHOUGH the Ministry of Transport have agreed to the demolition of the seaward end of Lytham Pier the conditions they have imposed have led to a further deadlock.

The Ministry want the foundations removing to a depth of 3ft. below sand level, and as this, the " Express" is informed, would cost " several thousands of pounds," the pier executrix is not prepared to go ahead unless Lytham St. Annes Corporation will help to defray the cost.

The Playing Fields Committee this week recommended the council not to undertake any financial liability. The "Express" understands that the question will be discussed again at a private meeting of the council on Monday night.

One councillor told the "Express" yesterday, “The council do not own the pier, and the cost of demolition has nothing to do with us."

Mr. R. Barton Park, of Messrs. May, Hamer and Park, solicitors acting for Mrs. Nellie Kamiya, executrix of the late owner of the pier, Mr. Harry Kamiya, told the " Express," " The proposal to demolish the seaward end of the pier was based upon the assumption that the Ministry would consent to the piles being cut off and made safe at sand level.

"STEEP RISE"

“This would have been a relatively inexpensive operation, the exact cost of which could have been estimated before the work began. Immediately one considers severing piles below sand level the cost rises very steeply.

"Furthermore, because so many unknown and unpredictable factors are involved, no contractors would be prepared to give a firm estimate for the work, but inevitably it would be very expensive indeed. It would run into several thousands of pounds. “The decision means that unless the local authority are prepared to assist the seaward end of the not be demolished added Mr Park.” With the passage of time the condition will deteriorate. I can foresee the day when some of the superstructure will have to be dismantled, but I imagine that the ironwork will still last a long time, slowly disintegrating. Unfortunately, of course, while this process of decay continues, the pier will not be an asset to Lytham."

The Town Clerk (Mr. Walter Heap) told the." Express." " It is not the council's liability."
 

LYTHAM PIER: NO ACTION

LYTHAM ST. ANNES TOWN COUNCIL, sitting in private on Monday, agreed that no action should be taken on the suggestion that the council should help to defray the cost of demolishing the seaward end of Lytham Pier.

As reported in last week's "Express," the Foreshore Committee recommended the council not to undertake any financial responsibility.

The proposal that the corporation should help financially was made by Mr. R. Barton Park, of Messrs. May, Hamer and Park, Blackpool, solicitors acting for Mrs. Nellie Kamiya, executrix of the late owner of the pier.

The solicitors informed the corporation that as the Ministry wanted the foundations removing to a depth of 3ft. below sand level this could not be done unless the corporation would help to foot the bill.

The “Express" understands that at Monday's meeting it was suggested that the executrix could make the seaward end of the pier safe and develop the front portion. This, it was stated, could prove profitable and at the same time would be an asset to Lytham.