Selling historic sites 'could fund pier repairs'

West Hoe pier is where Sir Francis Chichester landed in 1967, becoming the first person to sail solo around the world

Future repairs to a Grade II listed pier in Plymouth could be funded by selling off historic sites in the city, council bosses have heard.

West Hoe pier shut on 1 September for six weeks of stabilisation repairs and could close again in the spring.

Built in the 1880s, the structure has been subject to many repairs over the years because of damage caused by the waves.

Councillor Chris Penbethy told Plymouth City Council's cabinet, on Monday, that selling Pounds House mansion in Central Park and the 16th Century Merchant's House would fund further repairs.

Penbathy, who represents St Peter and the waterfront, said the pierhead was more fragile than previously thought and needed "more intrusive work", including refilling voids created by the sea."

"Whilst it is sad to lose historic assets we need to look at holding and capital costs of all sites because we cannot afford to invest in West Hoe Pier and the Boer Memorial if we are holding buildings as part of a bigger process," he said.

The monument is also dedicated to a grandson of Queen Victoria who died of typhoid fever during the Second Boer War

The Prince Christian Victor Memorial on Plymouth Hoe is due to be stripped back, cleaned and treated as part of a restoration programme, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The pink obelisk commemorates officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Gloucestershire, Somerset and Devonshire Regiments who fell during the Boer War 1899 to 1902.

Penberthy said the council would move towards disposal of Pounds House in the next couple of weeks and evaluate bids for Merchant's House.

The authority said it had no use for the listed buildings and no funding to restore them.

Pounds House has cost taxpayers nearly £500,000 over five years to maintain, insure and secure.