Pier work delays 'cultural vandalism' - councillor

Hull City Council said it was working with a specialist contractor to "inspect and assess the possible future options" for Victoria Pier

An opposition councillor has criticised Hull City Council for not carrying out repairs to a 200-year-old pier.

The Liberal Democrats-led authority said it was exploring options for the future of Victoria Pier, which closed to the public about five years ago for safety reasons.

Daren Hale, a Labour councillor whose party previously led the authority, said it was "only ever meant to have been shut temporarily" while repairs were carried out.

The Lib Dems, which took control of the council in 2022, said it had inherited "many half-finished and unplanned projects".

Speaking to BBC Look North, Hale described the lack of action as "cultural vandalism".

"This [pier] is part of Hull's history," he said.

Hale insisted the money was there to carry out the repairs, but said "you've got to have the will to do it".

"This is 200 years of history and it must be saved," he said.

Daren Hale, a Labour councillor, is campaigning for the pier to be saved

In a statement on Friday, the council said: "Sadly, the previous Labour administration under Daren Hale left so much of the city to decay and rot.

"The Lib Dems deeply value our infrastructure and cultural heritage, but we inherited many half-finished and unplanned projects from Labour.

"We are moving forward with plans over the future of Victoria Pier, alongside other investments in the budget proposals."

Labour was yet to put forward a "credible plan", the statement added.

The authority previously said it had secured a specialist contractor to "inspect and assess the possible future options for the structure".

However, it has not confirmed whether one of the options would be to demolish it.

The pier, originally known as the Corporation Pier, first opened as a ferry terminal in 1825, linking Hull and Lincolnshire. It was renamed following a visit by Queen Victoria in 1854.

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