We are now drawing up plans to apply for planning permission for the first part of the work. This will be on display at our next investor event, and includes putting a Visitor Centre on the pier at the land end. As there is lapsed planning permission for retail units from the previous owner, this should be straight forward, and the previous owner and his architect are being of great assistance.
We have been shortlisted for a large grant for this stage of the work, which requires us to raise £91,000 towards the work. We already have £46,000 in hand, so we ask for your help in raising the remaining £45,000 If you have ideas for fund raising events, please get in touch at shotleypier@gmail.com and please come to our coffee mornings, or other events that are coming up!
The Visitor Centre phase to widen the entrance to the pier, and place a Visitor Centre a little way along will become the place for us to welcome visitors, display our memorabilia, pictures and history of the pier. When it is completed, we expect to start running events there such as art groups, photographic events, and general pier related volunteer meetings. Having our own home will help us raise the money for the Promenade section of the work to renovate the long straight section of pier, we expect that to take longer
We have lots of events coming up, please support them if you can, we are making good progress with our fundraising but always need more! We aim to make your participation enjoyable as well as fundraising.
Save the Date for events further ahead:
4 April - April Art Wall & Coffee Morning at the Red Lion, Chelmondiston - tickets £5
25 & 26 April – Bette & Joan performed by Horizon Theatre – tickets £10
2 May - May Art Wall & Coffee Morning at the Red Lion, Chelmondiston
4 May - Investors Only Celebration Meeting - 7 pm at Shotley Village Hall
More details of these events in the Diary.
Sadly, several of our supporters have passed away this year. We remember and thank Gordon Brown of Shotley and Julian Moore of Holbrook for their interest and support of our project. Both were keen to have celebratory plaques on the pier, and we will follow their instructions. This is a timely moment to let you know that share certificates will come with a form asking you to nominate a beneficiary to inherit your shares, hopefully in the distant future. You can nominate children or adults, and the shares are treated outside probate if you name a beneficiary.