28/09/2026
Eastbourne Conservatives support Josh in Eastbourne Pier becoming an Asset of Community Value.
Here is Tory leader Robert Smart: "Over the summer, I have been working with Friends of Eastbourne Seafront to help secure extra protection for Eastbourne Pier.
"We have now successfully applied for the pier to be listed as an Asset of Community Value, a formal status that gives local people a say if the pier is ever put up for sale.
"The pier is owned by Golden (Lions) Eastbourne Ltd, controlled by Abid Gulzar, and the company’s most recent accounts put its value at around £6 million. With legal proceedings affecting companies linked to the pier’s ownership, it felt essential to act now, rather than wait and hope for the best.
"For me, the priority is simple: Eastbourne Pier must stay open for business and remain at the heart of our seafront. Listing it as an Asset of Community Value means that, if a sale is proposed, residents and the council would have a six month window to respond and explore options.
"I recently walked the pier with the engineer who has maintained it for the last 28 years through several changes of ownership. His assessment of the structure was encouraging, and it underlined for me that, with the right stewardship, the pier should continue to play a central role in Eastbourne’s tourist offer."
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