Traders on condemned Hastings Pier have won an 11th-hour High Court injunction to prevent the closure of the 130-year-old attraction.

Part of the pier has been shut for a month after a Hastings Borough Council safety inspection found it was in danger of collapsing.

Owner Ravenclaw Investments announced it would close the entire structure from Sunday, July 16, after failing to reach an agreement with Hastings Borough Council to carry out repairs.

But a High Court judge last Friday blocked the closure after traders argued it would amount to a breach of their lease contracts.

They are now vowing further legal action to force Ravenclaw to repair the rest of the pier.

Mr Justice Blackburne granted a seven-day temporary injunction against closure before a full hearing next Friday.

Erica Holland, who runs the Gritti Palace bar, said: "We are delighted. The future is not safe by any means but the court has upheld our argument.

"We have never been given any formal closure notice and Ravenclaw cannot simply come and close us when it feels like it.

"We have contracts and it is our livelihoods and we will fight this all the way. The pier is still open and we want it to stay that way."

Millionaire Ian Stuart withdrew his offer to return to the town and fix the condemned tourist attraction this week because Hastings Borough Council refused his demands.

He offered to fix steelwork within three weeks at a cost of £1 million but asked the council to commit £100,000 and drop its objections.

The council said it was being held to ransom and could not discuss handing over public money unless the pier's owners carried out a full structural survey.

Mr Stuart, who sold the pier to Ravenclaw but still acts as a consultant for the company, said: "This action will without doubt end with the pier falling into the sea, a result which must be what the council desires.

Monday, July 17, 2006