Colwyn Bay’s Victoria Pier in TV documentary

Dec 4 2008 by Richard Evans, North Wales Weekly News

ONE man’s attempts to rescue and restore Colwyn Bay’s Victoria Pier will be the subject of a year-in-the-making BBC Wales documentary next week.

The film follows the efforts of pier enthusiast Steve Hunt who is attempting to restore the derelict structure to its original state, and will be premiered in Old Colwyn on Tuesday.

Built in 1899, the pier was officially opened on June 1, 1900, but in recent decades has fallen into disrepair and needs hundreds of thousands pounds of investment.

Steve Hunt bought the pier five years ago and hopes to turn back time and bring back the glory days. The programme, Pier Pressure, follows Steve as he sets about renovating the art deco pavilion and modernising some of the pier’s 1970s features.

But as the year progresses, events start to take an unexpected twist and the future of the Victoria Pier looks more uncertain than ever.

The programme tracks Steve’s efforts to stave off bankruptcy, keep the building open for business and ensure the pier is still standing for future generations to enjoy.

BBC Wales producer and director Carwyn Jones said making the programme proved a real eye-opener.

“To a certain extent we take piers for granted,” he said. “They’re a staple of so many holiday memories from our childhood, but it’s only when you realise there are only a handful of piers still standing in Wales that you appreciate how precious and precarious these Victorian structures are.

“They’re a metaphor for the halcyon days of the British seaside resort. No more will ever be built so when a pier’s gone, it’s gone forever and maybe some of our heritage goes with it.”

Members of the public are being invited to attend a special preview screening of the programme prior to its television broadcast. The 30-minute documentary will be shown at a free screening at 7pm on Tuesday, December 9 at the Interchange on Abergele Road in Old Colwyn. The show will be followed by a question and answer session on the documentary.

The programme will be broadcast at 7.30pm on BBC2 Wales and BBC 2W on Thursday, December 11.

richard.evans