Council backs plans to demolish “Nelson jetty” in Great Yarmouth.
The Great Yarmouth jetty that welcomed Vice-Admiral Nelson back to UK shores after his victory over a combined Danish-Norwegian fleet in the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 will soon be history after the borough council’s development control committee voted to demolish it by seven votes to two.
Councillors were shown photographs showing the structural decay of the jetty, which has forced its closure to the public for more than two years. And they were told that there was no prospect of the council finding the necessary £300,000 to refurbish it.
Local historians had led a passionate campaign to save what has been described as Yarmouth’s first outer harbour but their hopes were effectively dashed when English Heritage scotched the idea of listing the structure.
Its experts argued that although it may have been first built in 1560 it had been rebuilt too many times to warrant listing.
Committee chairman Charles Reynolds said: “Everyone in this room is sad at having to make the decision but there is not the money available to refurbish it. Sometimes, you have to put the old dog down.”
Michael Taylor opposed demolition, saying the jetty was historically important and arguing that money had been found to save Nelson’s monument.
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