- Introduction
For a long time, the piers at Eastbourne and the one at Brighton have been sea landmarks that have characterized Britain’s coastline. However, the two landmarks have been battered by storms and gutted down in a fire. On the thirtieth of July in 2014, the Eastbourne pier was gutted by a fire that reduced the once historic structure to shells. The Brighton pier has also had its share of problems. In February of 2014, part of the structure collapsed and fell into the sea after a big storm hit the sores.
Some of the main supports of the Brighton pier were washed away. Before East Sussex County Council makes any renovations on either of the projects, it is important to consider the economic viability, social impact and the cultural significance of the two projects. In the midst of limited resources, it is important for East Sussex County Council to invest in the most viable project based on these three parameters. This paper will compare these two seaside projects and make a recommendation to East Sussex County Council on the better of the two projects.
- The Pier at Brighton
- Social Impact
The social impact of the pier at Brighton is a measure worth considering when deciding on whether to invest in its reconstruction. For a very long time, the residents of Brighton have appreciated the benefits of living by the seaside and also walking over it. Piers have been one of the most important seaside projects, allowing residents and visitors to attune space with desire (Corbin 263). The pier also allows people to reflect upon themselves as the look outward into the horizon. The pier creates an illusion for the residents that they can edge closer to that which is unattainable. Additionally, the pier has a communal element where it is believed that it offers an unequalled marine promenade. The other social element of the pier in Brighton is that the aristocratic visitors who came to Brighton back in the day and the tourists who visit today encounter the desire of the community to feel, see and experience the sea.
- Economic viability
Unlike the rich social impact that the Brighton pier has on the community and Britain at large, the same cannot be said from an economic perspective. According to a report by Deloitte, Brighton pier cannot be economically viable in its current state. In making this finding, Deloitte cited the capital requirements for its restoration and the maintenance costs involved. In the plans to restore the pier as a cultural heritage, the cost of the project was estimated at 22,800,000 sterling pounds (European Commission 2). The other reasons that Deloitte cited in describing the pier as economically unviable was that the renovation and consequent operation would need constant financial support from the public. This implies that the pier cannot generate enough revenue to meet its operational costs and break even.
This was caused by the fact that the pier was constructed on a limited space. Enlarging the space upon which the pier is constructed would make it loose its heritage (European Commission 2). Additionally, the proximity of the pier from the focus of leisure visitor destinations would undermine its economic viability. Finally, Deloitte found that the entrance tariff that would be charged would not generate enough revenue. According to the report, any economic viability of the pier is predicated on other income generating avenues such as exhibitions, leisure activities, retail and catering facilities. Given that space on which the pier is constructed is small, this becomes highly implausible (European Commission 3).
- Cultural significance
Brighton pier has lot of historical significance to both the immediate community and the country at large (Harris 39). As a historic pier, the pier in Brighton is classified as a Grade 1 because of its cultural value. This pier is the only one that is classified as a Grade 1 per in the entire country. This is makes it a heritage asset of great cultural significance. The Grade 1 category recognizes that the architecture, engineering and aesthetics of the pier are important to the national heritage (European Commission 4).
- Eastbourne Pier
- Social Impact
The pier in Eastbourne also has a significant social impact on the Eastbourne community and the country at large. The presence of the pier in this locality has led to increased social activities in the area. For instance, Eastbourne is a tourism hub, an element that is attributable to the presence of this architectural structure. The impact also this structure also affects the businesses around Eastbourne. The increased social activity in the area has increased the number of investments. The social impact of the pier can also be seen in the speed with which the renovations were done after the pier was ravaged in an inferno (Quinn 1). In a period of two months, the government had released over won million sterling pounds to renovate and restore the Eastbourne pier (Gover 1).
- Economic Viability
The economic viability of this pier is dependent on the economic activities in Eastbourne. Eastbourne has a very robust tourism base. The Eastbourne pier is among the thirty eight tourist attractions in the general area. In 2003, there were over thirty nine million visitor days in Eastbourne, generating over three hundred million sterling pounds for the local economy (East Sussex county Council 11). Unlike the Brighton pier, there are other establishments along Eastbourne pier. This helps diversify the income generation for the pier. For instance, there is theatre with a capacity for one thousand people. There is also a pavilion that has a capacity for nine hundred people. These parts of the complex increase the viability of Eastbourne pier as an economic project for East Sussex county Council (The Heritage Trail 1).
- Cultural Significance
The Eastbourne pier is also a culturally significant structure. It is one of the sixty one piers remaining in the United Kingdom (Gover 1). This is a Grade II heritage site with a lot of cultural significance. It represents a lot of history since construction on the pier began in 1866 (National Piers Society 1). It is because of its cultural significance as a national heritage site that the pier was hastily renovated after it was gutted in a fire.
- Recommendations
Based on the analysis, I recommend that East Sussex county Council should invest in renovating the Brighton pier. The social impact of the pier has been felt since the era of the aristocratic visits into England. Additionally, the pier is important to the community because allows people to reflect upon themselves as the look outward into the horizon. The pier creates an illusion for the residents that they can edge closer to that which is unattainable.
Although the report by Deloitte argues that the pier is not economically viable in its current state, the fact that it is the only remaining Grade 1 heritage site in the country outweighs the economic components. Restoring the Brighton pier is tantamount to restoring a national heritage. In view of the high capital needs of the project, and the high maintenance costs, I recommend that East Sussex county Council utilizes the land adjacent to the Brighton pier in order to create a complex that will improve the economic viability of Brighton pier. Given that the entrance tariffs are insufficient sources of revenue, and the fact that Brighton pier is constructed on a small space, the use the land adjacent to the pier will not only diversify the sources of revenue, but also maintain the heritage site in its original form (European Commission 4).
- Conclusion
The two piers have a lot of historical significance. They were constructed late in the nineteenth century. They have both been converted into sites of national heritage. However, over the years they have weathered different disasters, ranging from fire and sea storms. Their restoration requires significant financial investments. In the midst of limited resources, East Sussex county Council has to prioritize on the most important project. The paper shows that the two piers – Brighton and Eastbourne piers – have equal social impacts and cultural significance, even though the Brighton pier is ranked higher as a heritage site. Based on a report by Deloitte, the Brighton pier is not economically viable. However, the fact that is the only remaining Grade 1 heritage site in the country is worth saving, despite its economic unviability. As such, this report recommends that the East Sussex county Council invests in the Brighton pier, with expanded projects on the land adjacent to the pier in order to maintain the pier as a heritage site and also diversify its revenue generation.
Works cited
Corbin, alain. The lure of the sea: The discovery of the seaside in the western world 1750-1840. Camdridge. 1994. Print.
Gover, Dominic. Eastbourne pier reopens just two months after fire gutted seaside landmark. 22 Sep. 2014. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
East Sussex county Council. Eastbourne – Hailsham Triangle Towards a Master Plan: Economic Strategy & Spatial Scenarios. 2008. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
Quinn, Ben. Future of 144-year-old Eastbourne pier in doubt after major fire. The Guardian. 30 Jul. 2014. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
National Piers Society. History of Eastbourne pier. National Piers Society. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
Harris, Roland. Brighton & Hove Historic Character Assessment Report. Mar. 2007. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
European Commission. Aids N 560/01 and NN 17/02 – United Kingdom Brighton West Pier. European Commission. 9 April. 2002. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
The Heritage Trail. Eastbourne Pier, East Sussex. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
