Plans to restore a historic pier are "in jeopardy" after key partner the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) pulled out of the deal.

North Somerset Council confirmed it would have to delay the process of appointing contractors to renovate the pier.

Under the abandoned plans, the RNLI would have established a new base on the pier and had committed to raising £5m towards the cost, according to the council.

Peter Sparkes, RNLI chief executive, said the charity did not have "the confidence needed in the funding or contractual structure" to complete the pier repair.

Councillor Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset Council, said the authority had been working alongside the RNLI on the project for nearly seven years. "This is a shocking decision that breaks faith with residents, volunteers, and everyone who has worked so hard to secure a future for Birnbeck Pier," he said. "The withdrawal has absolutely come out of the blue. I would summarise it as they feel that it's 'too risky' for them as a national charity. We feel very let down, as I'm sure many residents will too. I want to reassure residents that the council, along with our funding partners, remain committed to saving Birnbeck Pier," he added.

Mr Sparkes said the RNLI's initial pledge was based on the "belief it would support the delivery of [the charity's] core purpose, to save lives at sea".



But following a viability review, concerns arose regarding funding and plans to ensure ongoing maintenance costs associated with the historic pier would be met, he added.

"Investing donors' money in a pier restoration project that is not fully funded, with insufficient risk contingency to ensure the project reaches completion, would present an unacceptable on-going financial risk," he said. "As would investing donors' money in a lifeboat station on the island, which is only accessible by a pier for which there is no viable long term maintenance plan." However, he added the charity "remained committed" to securing a permanent lifesaving facility in Weston-super-Mare for their work.



More than £20m has been secured for the project through grants from the UK government, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Historic England.

A spokesperson for The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Heritage Memorial Fund said: "We are aware of the news that the RNLI have announced today to withdraw from the Birnbeck Pier project. This is obviously disappointing for everyone involved. We continue to be committed to finding a viable future for Birnbeck Pier and are working closely with North Somerset Council, Historic England and the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust to explore all possible options."

North Somerset Council had hoped to appoint contractors on 8 July, with the work expected to begin later this year. The appointment will now be delayed.

Crumbling pier's restoration could be scrapped



A council's flagship project to restore a crumbling Grade II listed pier could be scrapped months after a key backer pulled out.

North Somerset Council has been working to restore and reopen Birnbeck Pier, in Weston-super-Mare, for years after it was closed to the public since 1994 and left in disrepair.

In June the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI), which was a key partner, pulled out of a deal which would have started work to restore the pier because of viability concerns.

Councillors have been recommended by council officers to close the current restoration project "with genuine regret and disappointment" at a meeting on 16 September.

The council report said: "It is with genuine regret and disappointment that this report recommends to council the effective closure of the current Birnbeck Pier restoration project. This pier is a loved landmark, not just locally but nationally and internationally. Our social media posts have generated positive responses and happy memories from all across the world. Its restoration would bring people together in celebration of our past and future, enhancing pride in where we live and what we can achieve here. This current project cannot go forward, but our ambition for the pier remains. We will continue looking for solutions and hope that at some point in the future an answer will be found."

A council report said the pier was bought by the local authority in 2023 with the financial backing of the RNLI and Historic England.

However the RNLI abandoned the project in June while the council prepared steps to award a construction company the major contract to restore the pier. The RNLI initially proposed to establish a new base on the pier and had committed to raising £5m towards the cost.

The RNLI previously told the BBC it left the project after a viability review raised concerns about funding and plans paying ongoing maintenance costs. The RNLI has been approached for comment.

The council report said the "current funding gap is too large to be bridged by" the council and it has not received any offer of alternative funding.

The pier is among six Grade II listed piers in England and the only in the UK to connect the mainland to an island.

It played a significant role during World War Two as it was commissioned for weapon trials, including the famous Sir Barnes Wallis bouncing bomb.

The final decision will be made at a meeting of North Somerset's full council on September 16.

£5million short? (from the RNLI before they pulled out)

Crowdfunders can raise that sort of funds - worth a try, council?

£5million short? (from the RNLI before they pulled out)

Crowdfunders can raise that sort of funds - worth a try, council?

I know this may cause offence to some, but when I look at the picture above, I think the best thing that can be done to Birnbeck pier is to dismantle it. Of course that won’t happen because it’s listed so it will remain continuing to decay.