We are delighted to announce that Shotley Pier has signed a contract to receive an investment of £144,864 from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. This adds to existing funds raised and other grants such as Coastal Revival Fund which donated £50,000 in March 2019
The purpose of the investment fund is for “support of investments associated with the maintenance, restoration and upgrading of the cultural and natural heritage of the heritage coast.”
This investment means we can start work on Land Bridge section of the pier from the pavement edge out into the river.
The hard work of the volunteer Directors in preparing for the contract means that work will commence in September 2019. While it is weather dependent, we hope to complete this section of the renovation by spring 2020, and have a section of the pier ready to walk on for our members and the public.
Work to apply for planning permission to add side platforms and a visitor centre with workshop for the pier continues.
James Cartlidge, MP said:
“I am absolutely delighted to hear the news that Shotley Pier has been awarded such a significant sum. As Patron of the Pier Project I am excited that this excellent community initiative will now be able to physically get underway and look forward to seeing it progress. As always, the team deserve praise for their continued energy and dedication.”
It’s been a huge amount of work for the volunteers, attending funding meetings and writing papers, gathering evidence – both historical information as well as evidence from the public that they want this project.
We conducted more than 30 public consultation events where we asked people what they wanted from the pier project. The top three items which were mentioned over and over again by the public were:
Free access to walk on the pier without paying an entrance fee;
Shelter, so that the pier can be used all year round in all weather conditions;
Celebrate the Victorian heritage of the pier .
The pier group is doing its best to achieve these goals.
Chairman John Davitt shared the delight of the volunteers by saying: “ We feel so lucky to get this funding, which is a great expression of support for the development of the pier for the public to use once again after so many years. We can’t wait to get on with the work!”
Although we have more than 30 volunteers, we would be pleased to hear from anyone who would like to help us – from using your talents and skills to help us in specialist work, to handing out refreshments at investor meetings.
We have a particular need for:
People to give presentations to groups
Civil Engineer to add to our engineering team
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The volunteers spent many hours writing the bid, attending funder meetings and providing paperwork, tenders etc. Anyone who has ever applied for a major grant knows how gruelling the process is and how detailed the information needs to be.
The landbridge section is just the starting point for gaining public access to the pier, and we have a long way to go to gain funding for the whole length of the pier.
Work to apply for planning permission to add side platforms and a visitor centre with workshop for the pier continues
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