Herne Bay Pier bosses are positive about future

A leading councillor warned marinas should come with a health warning. Former Whitstable Harbour Board chairman Cllr Michael Dixey said marinas across the country were not servicing their debt and could only happen with massive enabling development such as housing. But the Herne Bay Pier Trust believe its £70 million scheme to build a marina around the old pier head could become a reality and have enlisted a team of industry experts to help.

Doreen Stone

Pier Trust bosses denied 2012 had been a "troubled" year and insisted next year was going to be fantastic. New chairman Doreen Stone told members at the annual meeting that trustees were feeling very positive about the future.

She said trustees were united in the view that the pier platform should be developed as a short-term project and that long-term the pier should be rebuilt.

But she said the trustees were feisty and often "squabbled." Mrs Stone, who breeds chickens at her free-holding in Bishopstone, said:

"We have had some really lively debates. I don't call that troubled, I call that healthy. We are thoroughly united, thoroughly tough. We want to reflect the views of Herne Bay with regards to the pier."

But several trustees stepped down over the year, including chairman Julian Jennings and vice-chairman Andrea Leach. The losses were highlighted by former trustee Michael Khoury, who said it meant the council – which has two councillors on the board – had more power. The other four board members are independent. Businessman Mr Khoury who runs seafront amusements, warned:

"You can't operate like this. You cannot have the council running the show."

Trustees want to recruit more experts to the board. Anyone interested should apply to the trust's yellow-painted gallery in Central Parade. A special meeting will be held to consider applications and elect them.

In a letter to the Herne Bay Times, Mr Leach said the trust had the plans and vision to take over the pier with private investment. He said:

"I believe that over the last three years I have expended a lot of passion, energy and resource personally to ensure the Trust has a presence and voice set against a challenging economic and political background. For the past year I have concentrated my personal efforts on identifying international and world-class partners and potential investors who would invest and support the rebuilding of the Pier."

He said trustees and members were working tirelessly on their plans and that he had identified individuals and businesses potentially interested in investing.

Herne Bay Times 10th Dec 2012