THE head of a campaign group trying to save a town’s decaying pier insists that despite a council being given conditional planning permission for demolition it is ‘by no means the end of the road’.

Following conditional approval to demolish Colwyn Bay’s Victoria Pier and redevelop a truncated pier being granted by Conwy Council at a planning committee meeting last Wednesday, Colwyn Victoria Pier Trust chairman Mark Roberts has said it is not ‘the end of the road’.

A seal of approval will now be sought by the Welsh Government Minister, Carwyn Jones, before work can begin on dismantling the listed building.

Mr Roberts, 62, said: “The application has not been determined. The council resolved to recommend to the Minister that it be approved. Only the Minister has the power to approve the application. There is still some way to go.

”We knew this was going to happen and the trust is embarking on its own application for Listed Building Consent to extend the pier and is having a meeting with the Heritage Lottery Fund in August. It is by no means the end of the road. The Trust is here to stay!”

A three week operation to dismantle the seaward end of Colwyn Bay pier began in March following a section of the balustrade at the lower end of the pier collapsing in February.