h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2894981.stm


We're really not having much success with piers are we.

Dewey... have you been playing with matches again?

Unless Dewey can swim, I doubt it. But seriously it is almost certainly arson as there is nothing there on the end of the pier that could start a fire. No gas, no electricity, nothing

I heard about this on the radio on the way home

Is there a lot of damage?

Jeez - this pier has worse luck than the one at Southend

Is there much damage? Yes lots

The fire was in the Theatre section which was the far end of the pier, and not the part that was casually falling into the sea. The whole structure of the theatre building was made of wood on an iron framework.

Well basically if it could burn, it did this morning. All that is left is the ironwork skeleton, and that looks rather warped and damaged as well

Was there *ever* any chance of it being restored though?

Sounds terrible

Its suce a beautiful structure. I wonder what the burnt out remains look like structures on the sea against the right llight can take on their own beauty

That part of the pier was the most beautiful part from my perspective.

Are they thinking its arsen? How could someone have got there to do it?

One of ironies vis the reconstruction is that the collapse and now the fire don't necessarily make a whole load of difference to the project. The key task was always the repair or replacement of the pier legs. So much of the stuff that sat on top of it would have had to be removed anyway.

As for the arson idea. Well a boat was spotted hanging around near the end of the pier, then it moved off pretty sharpish and then they saw smoke. There are a load of pictures of the event here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/photo_gallery/2896219.stm

Thanks for the link GD

I really hope it does not hinder the whole project. Who would want to burn it down anyway

Have you been to have a look?

I did hear a load of sirens going off in the early hours of the morning, so I knew that something somewhere was amiss http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/3017741.stm

I haven't been down to look at the damage yet. I'll report back later

There isn't really an awful lot to see as a result of the fire.

It broke out in the ballroom section, whish is the part that has been quietly collapsing into the sea for the last 5 months. Prior to last night all that that was, was the roof structure listing at a crazy angle on top of the wreckage of the walls and the like.

Well now it just looks a bit blackened with wisps of smoking coming out of it at random intervals.

Dewey! What have me and mum told you about playing with matches?

Gosho!