Somerset

THE historic Birnbeck Pier is currently undergoing an enormous renovation and will open next year for the first time since the 90s.

First look images have been revealed to show what it could look like when visitors can finally step foot onto the structure again.

Birnbeck Pier connects the mainland to a rocky island in Weston-super-Mare, but has been closed to the public since 1994.

The pier is being restored at a cost of £44million and it has been well-received by locals and visitors who are calling it “excellent news”.

In recently revealed images, it shows that along with work on the pier structure, surrounding buildings will be restored too like the Pier Master’s Cottage.

This will become a visitor centre and shop which will also be connected to a new modern cafe building and terrace, which will offer impressive views to the pier.

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Nearby, the Pier View building which has previously been a café, tea room, dress shop, and even military offices during World War Two, will also be restored.

As for what it will become, that’s yet to be decided, but one option being explored is an ice cream parlour.

The Toll House that’s known locally as the ‘shell shop’, will be restored and has potential to reopen as a concession stand.

As for the island, this will also eventually reopen to the public, but it may not be finished in time for when the pier reopens.

When it is complete, visitors will be able to see the restored clock tower and pavilion.

Also on the island will be the refurbished 1888 Boathouse, which will become a cafe on the top floor and an events space below.

Boats will even be able to dock thanks to the restored North Jetty on the island.  

The island used to be very popular thanks to its theme park which had small rides including a miniature railway and water chute. 

Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset Council, told the BBC last month that work on restoring the pier is already a quarter of the way through.

He added: “When people will be able to walk on the pier for the first time, I think it will be a magical moment for the many people like me who were born in Weston and have lived here all their lives.

He continued: “People who have seen this crumbling jewel will be delighted to see it restored.

“The North Jetty will enable us to bring in passenger and other ferry services to Weston.”

Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Headingley (day four)

Yorkshire 212 & 275: Hill 89, Bess 77; Overton 3-44

Somerset 201: Cliff 8-76 & 101: Lammonby 32; Coad 4-33

Yorkshire (19 pts) beat Somerset (3 pts) by 185 runs

Match scorecard

A relentless Yorkshire bowling performance put a significant dent in Somerset’s County Championship title challenge, the hosts consigning the pre-game Division One leaders to a hammer blow defeat at Headingley.

Somerset – chasing 287 – started day four on 73-3, quickly slipped to 79-6 and were later bowled out for 101 just before 12:00 BST to lose by 185 runs.

A third defeat of the season, and a second against Yorkshire, means that Warwickshire now lead Division One by 11 points from second-placed Somerset, who have never won this title. Nottinghamshire will also be in the mix come next week’s final round even if they lose against Sussex later on Friday.

For the mid-table White Rose, they claimed their fifth win in 13 games and backed up May’s success at Taunton. New ball seamers Ben Coad and Ben Cliff starred today, Coad finishing with four wickets and Cliff three.

Outstanding Cliff ended with career best match figures of 11-105, the 13th best match analysis in his county’s first-class history.

Cliff and Coad struck in the space of five balls inside the day’s opening half an hour, putting Yorkshire on course for a 19-point haul to Somerset’s three.

They removed not out batters Tom Lammonby and Tom Abell as Somerset lost two wickets for the addition of only three runs – 76-5.

Lammonby was squared up and caught behind off Cliff for 32 before Abell looped a catch up to backward point off the shoulder of the bat against Coad.

And when Coad struck again almost three overs later, at the end of the 39th, Somerset were in significant trouble, with James Rew caught at second slip on the drive.

Yorkshire came into day four knowing they had the edge, but one wicket they were desperate for was that of Craig Overton, who had broken their hearts back in July here with a stunning 79 not out off 30 balls in the Vitality Blast quarter-final.

Cliff got him caught behind pushing forwards in the 42nd over for five, also trapping Lewis Gregory lbw three balls later.

At 88-8, it was all but game over under an overcast Headingley sky but not quite matching the gloomy Somerset outlook.

The Overton and Gregory wickets were Cliff’s 10th and 11th in the match following his eight in the first innings.

Like Overton, Migael Pretorius had scored a first-innings fifty. But George Hill had him caught behind, leaving Somerset at 92-9.

Matthew Revis then wrapped things up by yorking Jake Ball, with day four lasting only 82 minutes in all.

Somerset face Surrey at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton in the final round of fixtures, which starts on Thursday, while Yorkshire can continue to play the role of spoilers when they travel to face Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

ECB Reporters’ Network supported by Rothesay.