I don’t know if you were on the seafront on Wednesday and saw the devastation but it is a memory which will stay with me for a very long time - a Hollywood disaster movie in its scale. Images of the towering blaze and our beautiful pier were beamed around the World.
Mercifully, there was no loss of life – how different it could have been. The site is still a crime scene and in a further blow, initial reports suggest Police are treating ‘as suspicious’.. I am sure there will be updates on media channels tonight.
The work of the coastguard, RNLI, Fire & Police Services was STERLING. I know the call went out and support poured in from across the county. We are so grateful.
The Town will respond magnificently for sure, already generous assistance has been made.
The Pier is privately owned and insured – that’s critical. After fire destroyed the West Pier in Brighton, our Pier was made a 2* listing which will secure a strong commitment to saving it as a heritage structure.
I believe we will see our Pier rebuilt and restored.
In the immediate aftermath we are rallying to find alternative venues in the town for weddings receptions booked for the Ocean Suite and, to find premises for traders so suddenly displaced.
One trader’s story is particularly crushing. In this e news I wrote just a week or so back about Sammy Morgan and her new Eastbourne enterprise, ‘Military Heroes Teddy Bears’ newly opened on the Pier. Through the sale of their bears, The Military Heroes Trust was aiming to donate £60,000 to the charity ‘FAB’ who provide holidays around the UK for bereaved military families. Just three weeks trading on the Pier and now all lost; particularly painful with the Commemoration of WW1 events so imminent but there’s hope here too...
I was very pleased to welcome David Cameron and George Osborne to Eastbourne today.
The Prime Minister and the Chancellor met with crew members of the RNLI and fire services, they visited the Pier and spoke with Traders. They said they were impressed by the Town’s resilience and energy.
And, in incredibly welcome news, the PM announced today that Eastbourne will to receive 2 million pounds to support the Town in the aftermath of the fire – this will make a real difference.
With my very best regards
Caroline Ansell
Prospective MP for Eastbourne & Willingdon