HC Deb 25 July 1893 vol 15 cc471-2
CAPTAIN SINCLAIR (Dumbartonshire)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that whereas the piers of Clynder and Barremman (which lie contiguous to each other upon the Gareloch) have been from the dates of their construction respectively in regular use by the residents of those places, Clynder Pier, which is said to have passed lately into the hands of the owner of Barremman Pier, has been closed by him to the detriment and inconvenience of certain of the residents of Clynder; whether the Board has power to compel the owner or lessee of Clynder Pier to keep open and maintain the said pier in the interests of the public; and, if not, whether in future the Board will cause provisions to be inserted in Pier Orders and in deeds conveying Crown property to persons for such purposes in order to safeguard public interests in this respect; and in view of the fact that, owing to the severance and removal of that part of the pier formerly leading to the public thoroughfare, there is now no access to the pier from the shore; whether, and, if so, under what conditions, the Board has power to compel the removal of the remainder of the pier?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. MUNDELLA,) Sheffield, Brightside

My attention has been called to the facts stated, and one of the disputants has informed the Board of Trade that he is about to take legal proceedings against the other. In these circumstances it would not be proper for me to say anything at present as to these particular piers. The Board of Trade have no power to compel the undertaker of a pier to maintain it in the interests of the public, if it is not remunerative; and I shall consider whether in future Pier Orders, or in deeds conveying Crown property for pier purposes, such a provision as the hon. Member suggests should be inserted. Under the Pier and Harbour Acts the Board have power, if a pier falls into disuse or decay, either to repair or to remove it at the expense of the owner. In the case of Clynder Pier the new owner has intimated his intention of entirely removing it.