Three columns removed from Bognor Pier for safety

Workmen were on site early last Thursdayto take advantage of a low tide. They removed 60ft of decking from the end of the seaward section of the pier.

Pier manager Angie Edlin, speaking on behalf of owner John Ayers, said: "Three bays were taken away. Nothing could be done to save them. The contractors came down to have a look.

"They could have removed the bay that was in the worst condition and hoped the other two would be all right. But it was decided to do what had to be done with all three bays while all the equipment was here."

The columns which were removed were those put back after the second world war had seen the pier chopped in half. The replacements were different to those which have survived the waves and storm since the pier was built in 1865.

The end of the pier has been fenced off for at least the past month because of the deteriorating metalwork underneath the decking.

Mrs Edlin said: "The removal of that section of the pier is all about public safety.

"Arun District Council was concerned, and we were concerned, about people walking under the pier when there was a low tide in the middle of the day.

"There's nothing we could do to stop them but there was a risk some of the pier could have collapsed on them."

Mr Ayres spent 50,000 just five years ago on that section of the pier.

He has paid out hundreds of thousands of pounds keeping the pier's landward section open since he bought it in June 1996.