Sad day for Brighton as demolition men move in on ruined West Pier

Demolition workers have started removing part of the collapsed remains of a ruined pier ahead of a nearby regeneration project.

Remnants of the West Pier's fire and storm-ravaged concert hall, close to the shore in Brighton, East Sussex, will be removed during low tides over the next fortnight.

The West Pier Trust, the charity which owns the pier known as the Grand Old Lady, said historical items will be salvaged for safe keeping but the landmark pavilion island will not be touched.

Rachel Clark, chief executive of the West Pier Trust, said today: "We've got a combination of low tides, better weather and fewer people on the beach at this time of year.

"Although nobody has been injured, the pier as it stands is a potential hazard so that's part of the reason why this work is going ahead now."

Designed by Eugenius Birch, the West Pier was built in 1866 using dozens of cast iron threaded columns screwed into the seabed and strengthened by a lattice of ties and girders.

It evolved into a pleasure pier and throughout the 1920s featured attractions including paddle steamer excursions, high divers and plays, pantomimes and ballets.

Its fortunes declined after a storm caused a dramatic collapse of part of the concert hall in December 2002.

Then months later, the pier - considered one of Britain's finest structures of its kind - was targeted by arsonists who destroyed the pavilion and concert hall.

The Heritage Lottery Fund decided to withdraw its funding of the regeneration project following the damage, dashing any hope of restoring it to its prime.

Ms Clark said the removal of the concert hall was a requirement of planning permission for a giant viewing tower called the i360 earmarked for the land end of the West Pier.

It is designed by the architects responsible for the London Eye. Visitors will be elevated on the i360 to nearly 500ft above sea level in a pod and enjoy panoramic views.

Ms Clark said "some of the funding" was in place, meaning a start date for construction had yet to be set, but it is hoped it will open by the 2012 London Olympics.

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Mary Mears said: "For many, the removal of part of the West Pier will be a sad moment.

"It's part of our history and we've lived with it a long time. However, time moves on and we welcome the start of work to remove the remains of the old structure."

Ms Mears said the authority was "looking forward to the i360 development bringing a new chapter of prosperity for the seafront".