Aberaeron town councillors are ramping up the pressure on the Welsh Government to guarantee the future of historic South Pier.

Town mayor Elizabeth Evans claimed last week that there was nothing “beyond a hope and a prayer” from preventing the Napoleonic structure from collapsing into the sea.

And she attacked Cardiff Bay’s “inaction” saying that the funding bid for the rebuilding of the pier had been “sitting on the minister’s desk” for over two years.

Although Ceredigion County Council has confirmed Welsh Government funding has been received, Cllr Evans had expressed frustration that the structure still appeared no nearer a much-needed overhaul.

“Eight years ago Ceredigion County Council undertook a design plan which went out to public consultation,” she told colleagues last week.

“I’ve pointed out to Ceredigion that we shouldn’t have to be reinventing the wheel.

“Hopefully the new design plan will eventually come out the other end and we will see the light of day.”

Cllr Evans, who last month posed for a photo on the pier which has been cordoned off for the past 11 years, revealed: “Standing on there was horrific – I just couldn’t get off quick enough.

“If we’re not careful that pier is going to fall – and it would be a nightmare if that were to happen. Yes, there’s obviously a need to defend the harbour with better sea defences, but South Pier is surely a priority.”

A Welsh Government spokesman confirmed last week that the design of strengthening work was part of a £450,000 package awarded to Ceredigion for improvements to sea defences at Aberaeron.

He said preparatory work and detailed design should be completed by April.

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition on Wednesday