A public inquiry to decide on the compulsory purchase of Weston-super-Mare’s dilapidated Birnbeck Pier is to be held next month. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has confirmed the compulsory purchase order (CPO) inquiry regarding the transfer of Birnbeck Pier to North Somerset Council is set to take place over three days between August 8 and 10.
North Somerset Council won its bid to go ahead with compulsory purchase of the landmark from owners CNM Estates at a court hearing last year. The authority issued CNM Estates - headed by businessman Wahid Samday - with a compulsory purchase order in September 2022.
But CNM Estates initially appealed the CPO on the grounds of ‘prematurity’ and asked for a ‘stay’ in proceedings. At the hearing in November, the council argued that a stay was not justified due to the current owner not undertaking any repairs to the landmark - with before or after the CPO was issued.
