CNM Estates has completed a deal to buy Birnbeck Pier.

The property firm became legal owners of the pier on Monday, after paying the last instalment to Urban Splash, three years after the sale was agreed. The price has not been revealed.

But in the same week CNM Estates tied up ownership of the pier - and bought a £45million tower block in Surrey - criticism was again levelled at company chairman Wahid Samady for his lack of action at the neighbouring Royal Pier Hotel site.

CNM Estates owes more than £100,000 to North Somerset Council for demolition work carried out after the hotel went up in flames for a second time in 2010.

Mr Samady said talks with the council are ongoing and hopes to announce a solution soon.

But deputy council leader Elfan Ap Rees said the only way forward is for CNM Estates to pay taxpayers back.

He said: “Mr Samady has still not paid us for the demolition costs of the Royal Pier Hotel.

“He had ample opportunity to get the work done, he failed to do that so we had to step in for the sake of public safety. The obvious way forward is for him to pay us and move on with his aspirations to develop the site.”

CNM Estates gained planning permission from the council in September 2011 to build 63 apartments, beach huts, a cafe and shops on the former hotel site.