North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell has firmly rejected recent criticism aimed at the restoration of Birnbeck Pier, calling the project a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to preserve a vital piece of heritage and bring the RNLI back to its historic home.
Birnbeck Pier, a derelict Victorian structure designed by Eugenius Birch, has been deteriorating since the 1990s. The ambitious plan involves restoring the pier and building a new lifeboat station on the island, ensuring the RNLI can launch lifeboats at all tides once again. This is particularly significant as Weston-super-Mare’s RNLI lifeboat station, the busiest on the English side of the Bristol Channel, has been operating from temporary containers since 2014 due to safety concerns.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Bell addressed those “trying to stir doubt and confusion” about the project. Though he did not name critics directly, his comments came shortly after Reform UK’s Weston-super-Mare branch questioned the use of public funds tied to the restoration. Reform UK highlighted several expenditures, including £14,100 for food and beverage advice, £5,700 for a noise assessment, £165,923 for an outsourced project manager, and £4,015 on signage they claimed was not visible, accusing the council of wasting taxpayer money through duplicated project management roles.
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Bell responded by emphasizing the complexity of the restoration, which involves coastal engineering, heritage conservation, environmental assessments, and legal ownership issues. “That’s why we’ve engaged the right expertise to ensure the project is managed properly, with rigorous financial oversight,” he said.
The project is primarily funded by more than £5 million from the government’s Levelling Up Fund, complemented by significant backing from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, RNLI, and the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Bell assured the public that every pound is accounted for and that government funding is ring-fenced and closely monitored through detailed reporting.
Ownership of the pier was officially transferred to the council earlier this year following a £400,000 investment from the RNLI to purchase the site from previous owners. The new lifeboat station renovation at the pavilion is expected to restore lifeboat operational capacity from the island, revitalizing a piece of coastal heritage and community pride.
Bell concluded by underscoring the importance of the project’s long-term vision: “We won’t let this project be derailed by short-term point scoring. It’s too important for our heritage and community.”