Plans to restore a historic pier are "in jeopardy" after key partner the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) pulled out of the deal.North Somerset Council confirmed it would have to delay the process of appointing contractors to renovate the pier.
Under the abandoned plans, the RNLI would have established a new base on the pier and had committed to raising £5m towards the cost, according to the council.
Peter Sparkes, RNLI chief executive, said the charity did not have "the confidence needed in the funding or contractual structure" to complete the pier repair.
Councillor Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset Council, said the authority had been working alongside the RNLI on the project for nearly seven years. "This is a shocking decision that breaks faith with residents, volunteers, and everyone who has worked so hard to secure a future for Birnbeck Pier," he said. "The withdrawal has absolutely come out of the blue. I would summarise it as they feel that it's 'too risky' for them as a national charity. We feel very let down, as I'm sure many residents will too. I want to reassure residents that the council, along with our funding partners, remain committed to saving Birnbeck Pier," he added.
Mr Sparkes said the RNLI's initial pledge was based on the "belief it would support the delivery of [the charity's] core purpose, to save lives at sea".
But following a viability review, concerns arose regarding funding and plans to ensure ongoing maintenance costs associated with the historic pier would be met, he added.
"Investing donors' money in a pier restoration project that is not fully funded, with insufficient risk contingency to ensure the project reaches completion, would present an unacceptable on-going financial risk," he said. "As would investing donors' money in a lifeboat station on the island, which is only accessible by a pier for which there is no viable long term maintenance plan." However, he added the charity "remained committed" to securing a permanent lifesaving facility in Weston-super-Mare for their work.
More than £20m has been secured for the project through grants from the
UK▸ government, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Historic England.
A spokesperson for The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Heritage Memorial Fund said: "We are aware of the news that the RNLI have announced today to withdraw from the Birnbeck Pier project. This is obviously disappointing for everyone involved. We continue to be committed to finding a viable future for Birnbeck Pier and are working closely with North Somerset Council, Historic England and the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust to explore all possible options."
North Somerset Council had hoped to appoint contractors on 8 July, with the work expected to begin later this year. The appointment will now be delayed.
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