The West Pier Trust was created in 1978. The charity, as well as a limited company, own the pier and therefore hold the rights, and potentially the future of the pier. - The trust is non-profit making.

The Trust refers to three aims:

1) To preserve and enhance the area for the benefit of the public.

2) To promote high standards of planning and architecture.

3) To secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic interest.

Initially in the 1980's, the Trust’s aim was to restore the pier to a better condition and continue its pubic use. This funding request was rejected by the government several times. However, in the 1990s, a real opportunity of achieving the restoration came with the creation of the National Lottery in 1994. In 1998 the Trust was awarded £14.2m by the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the restoration of the pier.

After years of planning, just before restoration could take place, the arson attack in May 2003 saw the complete destruction of the pier. Following this the National Lottery withdrew the grant in 2004. Today there are only the cast iron foundation structure remains of the pier.

Unfortunately the pier still remains shut, with any talks of a full independent restoration project being silenced by the new development project, the I360 Brighton.

This relates to environmental citizenship as it involves restoring areas that are currently derelict, rather than building on new environments. Therefore, new environments are protected.

This information was gathered through email with a worker named Sarah, who helped answer our questions and any queries we had about the trust.

http://www.westpier.co.uk/