In October 1866, the West Pier was opened to the public for the first time. It was built by the famous pier engineer Eugenius Birch and was believed to be his best project. Experts considered it one of the finest piers ever built. The West Pier is noted for its elegance as well as the thinness and strength of its cast-iron columns.
Yet in 1974, A.V.P. Industries, the owners of the pier at that time, applied to Brighton Council for permission to demolish the far end - including the Pavilion - on the grounds that it was not economic to repair it. In December 1974 the Policy and Resources Committee of the Council recommended that this application should not be opposed.
However, in one week's campaigning over Christmas, a petition asking Brighton Council to consult public opinion before allowing any demolition was signed by over 5,000 people. As a result, in January 1975, demolition was blocked and the Council postponed a decision about the pier's future.
But 25 years later, the West Pier is still closed to the public. The problem still is finding the millions of pounds needed to restore it. Some of the money could be raised from local council taxes, but why should the residents of Brighton & Hove have to pay for a tourist attraction rather than a football pitch for their local team. Some of the money could come from the European Economic Community, providing the member countries are willing for funds to be spent on Brighton's tourism. Some of the money could come from national government or the National Lottery, yet this money may be better used to help the sick, the poor and the elderly. Brighton already has one pier (Palace Pier) which is open to the public, so does it really need two?
It isn't worth _______ ing .......
It's a waste of time _______ ing .....
It's no good ______ ing .......
It's no use _______ing .....
The structure is too weak to repair.
The woodwork is too rotten to maintain.
The iron is too corroded to last another 100 years.
The pavilion is too delapidated to restore.
Constructions followed by the gerund:
It's well worth _______ ing .......
The wood can be replaced.
The iron-work can be painted with anti-corrosive paint.
The pavilion can be repaired.