A millionaire has withdrawn his offer to save Hastings Pier and the entire 130-year-old structure will close on Sunday - destroying traders' livelihoods.

Last week Ian Stuart, 55, a former owner of the pier and the current owner's adviser, offered to carry out £1 million repairs and reopen the structure in three weeks if Hastings Borough Council gave him £100,000 towards the cost.

Current pier owners Ravenclaw Investment Inc, gave the council until yesterday to agree to the offer but said they would close the whole pier by the weekend if the deadline was not met.

Hastings Borough Council leader Peter Pragnell said it would be "foolish, reckless and irresponsible to hand over any public funding before a detailed survey was carried out".

Ravenclaw representative Harmesh Pooni told The Argus yesterday Mr Stuart had withdrawn his offer and the pier would close on Sunday.

Tim Crammer, who owns Vidojo on the section of the pier which closed on June 16, promised legal action.

He said: "The traders in the closed section have been trying to find solutions for four weeks.

They have kids or have kids on the way and bank loans.

"There are lots of rumours. Financially this has been a disaster for me. It has all been quite a shock."

Mr Pooni blamed the council for the pending closure and said: "I kept the pier open at additional cost to us for a further four weeks.

"I promised the traders I would do all I could to try and save our businesses. But the council has refused to talk with us and has completely cut off our income. I have no alternative but to close the pier."

Council spokesman Kevin Boorman said: "I am incredibly disappointed Ravenclaw is choosing to close the pier without thought for the livelihoods of the traders.

"We never said it should shut. For Ravenclaw to walk away from the pier at the busiest time of the year is disgraceful. We were only concerned about public safety and we just wanted the pier to be safe. They still have until July 21 to complete the full structural survey. If they do that survey and can show us it's safe we will be happy. But they have chosen not to."

The pier is currently shut from the main entrance building outwards, pending a court hearing on August 9 into an emergency closure application.

Thursday, July 13, 2006