 The pier was closed to the public during the Second World War to house and operate searchlights to detect enemy aircraft travelling to Liverpool docks, yet was not physically separated from the land like other piers were during this time.The pier did not reopen again until 1950 and in June 1959, suffered a significant fire which destroyed of decking, reducing its length to the present day and for a period of time making it the third longest pier after Herne Bay Pier, until that was destroyed by a storm in 1978.Sefton Council acquired ownership of the pier in 1974 following national reorganisation of local government and it was designated as a Grade II listed structure on 18 August 1975 despite being in a state of deterioration.