Pier plans cruising full speed ahead
PLEASURE boats could be returning to Mumbles Pier if plans for a multi-million pound revamp get the go-ahead.
Talks have been held between pier owners Ameco Ltd and Waverley Excursions with a view to using the pier as a stop-off point for cruise ships.
If the planned £39 million redevelopment of Mumbles Pier gets permission from Swansea Council, pleasure steamers such as the Waverley and Balmoral could be tying up alongside, carrying hundreds of day visitors.
Plans are also being outlined for an £8 million lifeboat house at the end of the pier.
Waverley operations director Ian McMillan confirmed his firm has been in informal talks with Ameco Ltd.
He said: "The plans for a major restoration of Mumbles Pier are an exciting step forward.
"We see it as a marvellous opportunity to come back home to a favourite location.
"We haven't operated from Mumbles for nearly 20 years, but our ships carry more than 200,000 passengers every year around Britain and we are looking forward to Mumbles joining in.
"It is all economic activity. I think Mumbles has got great potential. In my role I get to see all the nooks and crannies of resorts along the UK's coast. "Some of them are turning their faces to the wall and others are grasping a new future.
"I think this is a chance for Mumbles to grasp a new future."
Ferry firm Severn Link is also interested in running a service connection across the Bristol Channel.
Mumbles Pier was built in 1898 as a jetty to allow train passengers to embark on boat trips to Ilfracombe and stopping-off points in the Bristol Channel.
Plans for a major redevelopment and restoration were first put forward by Ameco in 2006, but were rejected by planners.
If the new scheme gets the go-ahead the firm hopes to start work next year with the first phase opening in 2015.
rupert.hall@swwmedia.co.uk
Devon ferry link on course — page 5
10 Comments
by manselton jack, The Utopia that is Manselton
Friday, November 05 2010, 4:48PM
“Lets be fair manselton is a far better place to live than Mumbles.
It's vibrant friendly multicultural place where people look after one another and have a strong sense of community.
Mumbles is tired run down and full of self serving people who care little for anyone bar themselves.
There are the odd exceptions such as Heather who is willing to give people the benefit of the doubt and extend a warm welcome to newcomers
But as a rule Mumbles people may have more money but we are richer in spirit.”
by Anon, Anon
Thursday, November 04 2010, 7:39PM
“Yes Heather, like Manselton :)”
by Heather, Mumbles
Tuesday, November 02 2010, 10:25AM
“I see there is much venom regarding the residents of Mumbles. However, those who call us "snobs" are no only showing their ignorance, they are also wrong!
It's not a bad place to wake up in. I can think of worse places.”
by SPIDEY JONES, Swansea
Monday, November 01 2010, 10:38PM
“How can there be any snobs in mumbles? what;s there to be snobby about?
Boarded up pubs, empty shops selling worthless tat and a blue rinse brigade that want to block anything from a decent bus service to a new pier.
The mumbles is and always has been the poor relation to the gower.”
by manselton jack, Manselton
Monday, November 01 2010, 4:46PM
“There are very few snobs in Mumbles now, Like Heather they are all salt of the earth types willing to give everyone the benefit of the doubt
That;s why she or indeed any of the population of this suburb of swansea .
would ever object to charitable ideas for the area eg affordable social housing, flats for asylum seekers and a shelter for the homeless”
by Heather, Mumbles
Sunday, October 31 2010, 8:27PM
“Grow up Arthur: you're a big boy now? I don't think there are many "snobs" in Mumbles, I'm sorry that your mind serves you so badly.”
by Arthur Pendleberry, Swansea
Saturday, October 30 2010, 4:37PM
“My dear Heather, my jibes are not nasty. I am just plainly sick and tired of you and your nimby cronies stopping everything that has ever been proposed for Mumbles. The sooner the snobs that live there realise its becoming a close second to being a run down area like High Street, the better.”
by cuthbert conger, under"th"pier
Saturday, October 30 2010, 1:20PM
“as long as they dont make to much noise while i'm raiding the lobster pot”
by Heather, Mumbles
Saturday, October 30 2010, 12:21PM
“Now that's a great idea because it will do something to bring *tourists* to the area; something a residential complex would not do. I doubt that anyone will object to that.
And Arthur, drop your nasty jibes and stick to the point.”
by Arthur Pendleberry, Swansea
Saturday, October 30 2010, 11:14AM
“I wonder what objections Jan Probert and her NIMBY cronies will come up with this time?
It's great to see real decent progress with this, I look forward to reading and seeing more over the coming months.”