Hasting’s Borough Council was forced to take emergency action last week and closed Hastings Pier, including the Bingo Hall and Amusement Arcade, citing public safety issues. In a statement issued by the council, consulting engineers Gifford of Southampton concluded that at least five trusses have ‘failed’ its inspection in the main covered walkway around the main facade entrance.

"Our consultant is of the opinion that it is unsafe to allow large numbers of people onto the Pier," the council concluded, and that as a result,"we have had no option other than to use emergency powers to close much of the Pier immediately.

"We have been talking to the owners for some time now about the structure of the Pier (pieces of metal were found to have fallen from the underside of the 130 year old structure in May), and despite previous attempts to resolve the issues the Pier management have continued to plan for large events on the Pier. The Council is very disappointed that it has had to take this action but clearly public safety must come first."

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