A MULTI-MILLION pound revamp for Mumbles Pier has received the backing of hundreds of visitors to an open exhibition.

Plans for the £39 million scheme to restore the Victorian landmark saw more than 300 visitors attend the exhibition at the Pier Hall ballroom over the weekend.

Four out five people said they backed the proposals, including the creation of a hotel, restaurants and apartments, which owners of the pier, Ameco, say could bring hundreds of jobs to the area.

The project will also see the restoration of the grade two listed pier, and the creation of boardwalks, cafes, and a family entertainment centre, as well as a new RNLI boathouse which would be powerful enough to launch their new Tamar class vessel, which is due to become operational before 2015.

John Bollom, managing director of the firm which owns the pier, said he was delighted the plans had struck the right note with the public.

"We are a family firm with 70 years' experience of operating amusements and leisure facilities," he said. "We are not developers and it has been important to us to work with Swansea Council to come up with a privately-funded solution that can reinstate Mumbles Pier as a tourist destination and give a sustainable future to an iconic part of the region's heritage."

A detailed analysis of the consultation event will be included in the application to be submitted next month.

Out of 265 feedback forms collected, 88 per cent said they approved of the designs on show; 87 per cent felt the scheme would enhance Mumbles headland and foreshore, and more than 75 per cent thought the plans were sensitive to local surroundings.

Just under 90 per cent thought the plans would boost tourism and 92 per cent believed the new RNLI lifeboat house would enhance the pier and surroundings.

A summary of the results have been sent to Swansea Council and Mumbles Community Council.

Mr Bollom said: "We are attempting to restore an iconic part of Swansea's heritage without a penny from the public purse.

"Over the years, we looked at how we could find a cost- effective method of rebuilding the pier. Privately-owned piers do not qualify for heritage funding and the local authority has other priorities."

He explained that an earlier scheme had been scaled down and now included a smaller hotel and apartments.

The proposed sea-wall has also been replaced by a cantilevered boardwalk which would cause less disruption to marine life.

News of the level of public backing coincides with recent publication of a study by Sheffield Hallam University of how seaside tourism contributes more than £300 million a year to the Welsh economy.

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk