THE campaign to get Gorleston Pier car park re-opened suffered a major setback after the borough council's cabinet rejected calls from its own councillors for the issue to be raised with port bosses.

THE campaign to get Gorleston Pier car park re-opened suffered a major setback after the borough council's cabinet rejected calls from its own councillors for the issue to be raised with port bosses.

The council's Gorleston area scrutiny committee had asked for the borough's head of regeneration and environment Tim Howard to approach EastPort to ask it to end its closure of the dilapidated car park on health and safety grounds.

But cabinet chairman Barry Coleman threw out the committee's recommendation, saying it was the wrong time to be approaching the company.

He said: “We are still aware of the position in relation to the car park but we would not demand the port do something straight away when it is not in their power to take action immediately.”

Last week, the council's deputy leader Barry Stone questioned whether the time was right to put pressure on owners EastPort for the car park to be bought back into use.

He told the Mercury it was a greater importance for EastPort to manage the outer harbour rather than spend time and resources on the car park. He said the car park would need more than resurfacing because there were structural problems that needed addressing.

Gorleston ward councillor Bert Collins revealed two weeks ago the structural problems on the pier meant it could be closed for good the same day that colleagues called for its reopening.

Since the car park shut in June residents and local businesses have waged a vocal campaign for its reopening.

Hundreds of people have signed petitions at shops caf�s and restaurants close to the pier with further names on an online petition on the website of prime minister Gordon Brown.

To sign the petition visit www.gorleston-heritage.co.uk or www.gorlestonpavilion.co.uk.