What a stark contrast there is between the fortunes of the only two piers in Britain which are Grade I listed buildings.

While both piers seemed doomed 33 years ago, Clevedon Pier in Somerset has since been fully restored while the West Pier in Brighton is falling into the sea.

Are there any lessons that can be learnt from the Somerset success?

One is that consistent council support, lacking on many occasions in Sussex, is needed. Another is that it may be better to renovate what remains of the West Pier on land rather than attempting to undertake the job above the roaring waves.

Local support, which included extensive fund-raising, was also a crucial factor in rescuing Clevedon Pier.

But the West Pier restoration is a far bigger and more complex job. Despite the £14 million National Lottery grant, more than twice that sum is needed to finance this project.

This means controversial shoreline buildings are required if the revived pier is to prove viable and there is strong opposition to them. If planners decide that they are a price worth paying for the restoration, it should be possible for the project to go ahead.

But if the scheme is rejected, it will be the end of the pier unless public funders decide to pay the whole cost, which is unlikely.

No one should be in any doubt that if the West Pier goes, it would be a big blow for Sussex. No one knows who would pay for the millions needed to demolish it.