Hastings Pier Burns: 5th October 2010

[andymooseman]

@TheSoulSearcher1 Agreed.

[battlebauble]

Whoa! Boy, that has got to be hot!

[andymooseman]

@battlebauble It wasn't too bad where i was, as the wind was blowing the smoke & heat slightly away from me.

[NaturalTwentyFilms]

Such a shame to lose little pieces of history in that way.

[andymooseman]

@NaturalTwentyFilms Unfortunately, it's an all too common way for these bits of history to go.

[iVi1SSYXTR3M3]

@TheSoulSearcher1 not wrong in thinking that.. I think it was easily a ploy by the council such a coincidence that it was burnt down the night they were talking about it on the news saying they don't know if they are ever going to restructure it.

[21stCenturyCat]

A sad sight

[andymooseman]

@21stCenturyCat Indeed it is Steve. Reminds you of Weston Super Mare no doubt? I'm going to go & have a look again this afternoon. Apparently, it caught fire again this morning! But, it's been dealt with thankfully.

[andymooseman]

@TheSoulSearcher1 Well, two people have been arrested on suspicion of arson, so....

[jrsnyderjr]

Oh wow, just f*cking wow. damn damn damn.

Sorry, I just can't click "Like" on this video. Thanks for posting it though.

[andymooseman]

@jrsnyderjr My reaction was pretty similar to yours :)

[jrsnyderjr]

@andymooseman I suppose we feel the same about the stupidity of the arsonists. I've read both the BBC and The Guardian stories. So senseless, what a pity.

Piece of my childhood, distant pleasant memories, will remain the way they are. Still can't replace what was lost in real life though.

[andymooseman]

@jrsnyderjr Had you been on the pier then?

[trex65ghia]

never heard of it... ??? Dunno?... sorry..

[jthekiller111]

Damn :\

[andymooseman]

@jthekiller111 I agree.

[fresky74]

OMG so sad :( did that banner on the side say "you can save me"? was it at risk of closing or something? Suspicious if you ask me if that is the case.

[andymooseman]

@fresky74 Two people have been arrested for arson. The pier had been closed for a few years. But, the process of redeveloping it was about to start.

[CPdrawer1]

IT WAS STILL BURNING AT 7 O CLOCK YESTERDAY :O

[andymooseman]

@CPdrawer1 And apparently, it caught fire again this morning!

[CPdrawer1]

@andymooseman No!!!

[thedebtsettler]

I went there a few years back with my ex-partner and was really shocked to see that it has just been closed down. Now I hear it has burnt down. It seems south coast seasides in the U.K have a history of being either badly run by incompetent local council idiots, or "arsoned" for insurance purposes by crooked owners. Look at the way Folkestone and Margate have also been ruined by the closure of their fairgrounds.

Very sad.

[andymooseman]

@thedebtsettler Piers are a real target. Hastings Pier is not the first to have affected by arson. Another rpoblem is that they burn so easily, being made of wood.

[thedebtsettler]

@andymooseman

Well they ARE a target...for crooks to make a fast buck via insurance.

Remember George Walker and Southend pier?

Same thing all over the place.

Piers should NOT be in private hands at all.

There ARE some very successful piers...Eastbourne, Southend, Clacton, etc

[mizzissippiblues]

saw Status Qou play there in early 70s and always thought of the pier with affection

[andymooseman]

@mizzissippiblues I think Status Quo played there many times. As so many other big bands did.

[Vandertop]

Yeh some good rock bands have played on the pier as well in the past including Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, Hawkwind and Jimi Hendrix.

[andymooseman]

@Vandertop Just about everybody played there at some time, or other.

[Vandertop]

There's some good aerial footage on the HPWRT (Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust) website. It shows that the wooden flooring in the middle section has gone completely. The Trust are waiting for a structural report.

[andymooseman]

@Vandertop I've seen some aerial footage & it looks far worse from that angle doesn't it? That middle section burnt very quickly. It had already gone when i shot this video, early yesterday.

[ebiannah]

So sad.  Sorry y'all lost an important part of the local scene. Hopefully, the pier will be rebuilt soon.

[andymooseman]

@ebiannah Thanks. very sad indeed.

[silverscreamgrl]

aww that is sad, Andy. i do hope that some day it can be fixed

[andymooseman]

@silverscreamgrl It will all depend on the outcome of a structural survey Beth. A sad day indeed.

[Southernrailwaysfan]

This is so sad to see Hastings Pier go why did they do it :(

I remember seeing the Pier when i use to go to Hastings on the train

[andymooseman]

@Southernrailwaysfan It's not just the local people who have good memories of the pier. It's been visited by holiday makers since it opened in 1872.

[takleway]

It's a real shame, all them memories it holds, Imagine all it's seen, some people say it was a insurance scam, or the council didn't want it standing around any longer, they did the same to the Hastings cottage and the other old abandend building standing on the ridge, intresting :/ Good Upload! 5/5

[andymooseman]

@takleway Thanks. It sure does hold many memories & for everybody in the town too. We've all had some involvement with the pier, over the years, i expect.

[CPdrawer1]

WHY COULDNT THEY HAVE JUST WAITED AND SIGNED IT OVER TO THE COUNCIL?!

Today was the day they were gunna pass it over for 3000 £'s i think..

THIS MAKES ME SO MAD!

[andymooseman]

@CPdrawer1 I think there are many very mad & angry in the town today.

[CPdrawer1]

@andymooseman Yes,I guess.

Im going there today :)

[gera12341234]

i live right next to the pier

[andymooseman]

@gera12341234 That must have been a shock when you woke up yesterday morning then?!

[phekwig]

There goes the icon of an era... Sad.

[andymooseman]

@phekwig Yes, an icon it certainly was.

[americannamor]

It's a real shame. The funny thing is, preYT I wouldn't have known anything about the pier and probably wouldn't have cared very much about a fire but from hearing you talk about it in videos it's like I've seen it myself and have a small connection to it. -I guess they are already talking about rebuilding/remodeling it if the support structure is sound-how do you feel about that? Was the idea of saving the pier about preserving the historical aspects of it or was it to revitalize it?

[andymooseman]

@americannamor It is weird how we come to get involved with other peoples local areas through this isn't it?

A structural survey is being carried out next week. We'll see what happens after that. I guess it all comes down to money. I'll be sad to see it go obviously. So, it would be good if something can be done.

[petuniabelle650]

I don't understand what makes people do such awful things. I'm sorry that happened, Andy. 

[andymooseman]

@petuniabelle650 Some people seem to get a kick from arson. I'm not sure we'll ever understand why?

[thizizliz]

What a terrible shame. Nice coverage; the lack of commentary added to the poignancy.

[andymooseman]

@thizizliz I ended up "covering" this in video, photo & audio forms!

[kenrg]

Tragic, simply tragic. I'm so sorry for your loss.

[andymooseman]

@kenrg Tragic indeed.

[willyIV]

I assume that it's a total loss(?) One day living history, the next only alive in memories. A true shame when small minded arsonists destroy an enduring landmark.

[andymooseman]

@willyIV A structural survey is being carried out sometime next week, to assess the damage. Mainly to see if the main structure is still sound. If it is, something might be able to be done. We'll see.

[guitarad]

A sad day- we all knew this was gonna happen, these councils just dont listen to us people.

[andymooseman]

@guitarad I know what you mean. I expect there are many people who half expected this outcome.

[timido66]

SO sad, it's looks like a fully involved fire.

[andymooseman]

@timido66 It certainly was & it's expected to keep burning/smouldering for a couple of days yet.

[elad463]

did they have to burn it? man oh man....

[andymooseman]

@elad463 Arson seems to be a constant threrat to buildings like this i'm afraid.

[HussyHarryet]

Who's the fire starter, the twisted fire starter?!

[andymooseman]

@HussyHarryet And to think that The Prodigy were one of the bands who have played on Hastings Pier.

[HussyHarryet]

@andymooseman Well that's vaguely ironic!

[GR1M3T1M3]

sad i used to love the music events held at fluid a few years back.... sad to see it burn :'(

although- i do enojoy the rather ironic banner YOU CAN SAVE ME

[andymooseman]

@GR1M3T1M3 Yes, that banner was a little ironic wasn't it? I never went to those Raves, or dance events myself, but remember them taking place. I saw plenty of bands in the main ballroom though.

[andymooseman]

@CharliesNews I'm sure there are plenty of conspiracy theories going around. I've heard some myself.

[popebenadict16]

thought youd be there. shame innit.

[andymooseman]

@popebenadict16 It's one of those things you just have to go & watch. Not nice to look at, but i'm glad i made the effort.

[qiranger]

Glad those connected with the arson have been found!

[andymooseman]

@qiranger Well, two youths have been arrested. But, not charged....yet.

[ralfonzo83]

don´t just stand there, andy! fight the fire!

[andymooseman]

@ralfonzo83 What, and stop filming? ;)

[sparky30368]

They must of used loads of Petrol it get it so raging

[andymooseman]

@sparky30368 It has been pretty windy here, with the wind off of the sea. That hasn't helped at all.

[MrRandomWritings]

Wow - amazing footage but such a shame. I was only expecting candles on a cake today not a raging inferno - mind you with over 50 candles it would amount to the same thing!

[andymooseman]

@MrRandomWritings Thanks Brian. It was taken on my iPhone & came out as well as could be hoped. I think i caught the end of the worst of the actual fire.

[LeSaMilano]

oh no!!! How very sad. Hopefully no one was hurt.

[andymooseman]

@LeSaMilano Nobody hurt as far as i know. But, two people arrested for arson!

[LeSaMilano]

@andymooseman well, I hope they get hurt a little....or a lot. F@@kwits!

[Blad3r1121]

@andymooseman I hope they get what they deserve! How dare they destroy living history!