Pier lifeboat station to be brought ‘back to life’
A rainbow shines over Birnbeck Island as the first contractors arrived by boat to work on its restoration
John Wimperis
Local Democracy Reporter
Plans have been revealed to bring a Grade II listed pier’s derelict lifeboat station back to life.
Once the heart of the popular tourist attraction, the pavilion at Birnbeck Pier in North Somerset has collapsed into a ruin amid the deterioration of the whole site.
Birnbeck is the only pier in the UK to link to an island and served as an RNLI lifeboat station for 132 years, before the charity was forced to abandon it in 2014 following safety issues.
RNLI’s manager for Weston-super-Mare Andy Wright said if plans were granted, the new station would have the latest equipment needed to “save lives at sea”.
The plans come amid a major restoration of the pier which North Somerset Council and the RNLI have been working together on.
Contractors landed on the island on Tuesday 8 October to begin North Somerset Council’s element of the works, which involves saving historic fabric and installing essential facilities.
Image source, Studio Four Architects
Proposed RNLI lifeboat station built partially within the East Pavillion ruin
Plans for a new station run alongside the first application which seeks to repair and restore Birnbeck Pier, which would provide access to the island.
The layout of the new lifeboat station has been designed in consultation with local volunteer crew and along with the lifeboats will accommodate Weston-super-Mare RNLI’s launch vehicles and trailers, changing room, crew welfare room, training room, office, and mechanic’s workshop as well as storage.
‘Much-loved structure’
Councillor Mark Canniford said: “This month marks the 160th anniversary of the official start of the original Birnbeck Pier project.
“Not only a beautiful and much-loved structure, it’s important to remember that our special pier and island also played a significant role in saving the lives of those living and visiting Weston-super-Mare for more than 130 years.”
The project to restore Birnbeck Pier and the island has been made possible by funding from the Levelling Up Fund, National Heritage Memorial Fund, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, and RNLI.
Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook, external and X, external. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
