ACTION is needed now to save our crumbling seafront arches, politicians and traders have said.

The warning comes after we revealed that businesses have been told they must move because parts of the structure are no longer safe.

Speaking yesterday, Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown, said if action is not taken immediately, we risk losing the iconic arches like we have lost West Pier.

The Conservative MP said: "Clearly there has been a lack of investment over a long period of time.

"We are reliant as a city on tourism. I feel very sorry for the businesses and those visiting Brighton.

"However, it is possible to renew worn out facilities as we have seen at the Saltdean Lido. But we have got to come out and have a plan."

He offered to contribute to any emergency committee or working party set up.

Warren Morgan, Labour leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, responded to our story by stating that senior members and officers are working on the problem "as a priority".

He added that he hoped to present proposals to the council by the end of the year.

He said: "We have had to put the safety of traders and the public first, but will work with the businesses that have had to close to find them new premises. The Madeira Terraces have lasted over a hundred years in a very hostile environment for ironwork, so it's no surprise they are in a very poor state."

When pressed on the details of the plans and funding he said they remained confidential due to being at an early stage.

Councillor Robert Nemeth, a member of the council's economic development and culture committee, said he feared a solution was some way off.

He added that in tackling the problem, "no funding solution should be off the table at this time". He added: "The priority has to be getting the terraces back up and running again."

The owners of JAG Gallery and Studio 284 have both been told they must vacate their premises because "severely corroded beams" have made the area too dangerous.

Traders told The Argus at the weekend that the failings of successive councils were to blame for the problem.

Julie Anne Gilburt, 42, owner of the JAG Gallery which she converted from an old public toilet block 12 years ago, said: "It is my income and the livelihood of other artists who trade and work here.

"I've built the gallery up, spent all of my life savings, effort and hours of time on this. I've been working seven days a week and when you get news like this it is devastating."

She has been forced to move part of the gallery into a Portakabin outside. She is now calling on the council to pay for Portakabins along the stretch so businesses can continue to trade while repair work is carried out.

It is estimated the total cost of the seafront repairs will be in the region of £100 million.

SHOCKED BUSINESS OWNERS HOPING FOR SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE

THE shock of having to leave a dearly loved home was sinking in this weekend at the Madeira Drive arches.

While some traders are safe for the moment, others are already having to pack their bags.

Julie Anne Gilburt, owner of JAG Gallery, and a host of her artists are already having to find a new home.

Those at Rehearsal space Studio 284 and Silvertree Studios are also having to find new premises.

When The Argus spoke to traders at the weekend, one solution that kept cropping up was for the council to fund temporary containers or Portakabins.

A similar scheme was rolled out following the Eastbourne Pier fire last year and containers have also been used successfully for retail in Shoreditch, London.

Ms Gilburt said the arches were “dying” as a result of decades of successive councils failing to maintain them.

The 42-year-old, of Saltdean, said: “I’ve built the gallery up, spent all of my life savings, effort and hours of time on this. I’ve been working seven days a week and when you get news like this it is devastating.

“It’s just bumbling along like the council does. It’s not the present council’s fault – they are just doing their job. They have been very helpful. It’s because of years of neglect.

“The council has spent money on other things but they are neglecting the arches. It’s going to be an eyesore.”

She added that one solution would be for the council to fund for the businesses to operate out of temporary containers while work is carried out – an option she said would be “affordable” and “feasible”.

Professional glamour photographer Gary Silver also has to close his Silvertree Studios on August 31.

Yesterday he said he was in ongoing negotiations with the council but could not discuss this further at present.

Announcing the closure on Facebook last week, he said: “This is not our choice but it has been forced on us following decades of neglect and lack of maintenance by successive local councils.

“It was fun while it lasted and hopefully the gallery will rise again somewhere, someday.”

Fish + Liquor owner David Roberts, who moved in five months ago, said: “Money does need to be spent on the arches. This side of the pier has been a little bit neglected – it’s a shame.”

Mr Roberts, whose shop in not currently affected, said the council should use some of the money they make from staging events there to fund improvements.

On Friday a council spokeswoman said: “Parts of the Terraces were fenced off earlier this summer, but the situation has become much more serious as elements within bays one to five of the terraces are now severely corroded leaving them beyond repair and in danger of collapse.”

She added that work has begun to structurally support the corroded beam “but there is still a risk of a progressive collapse” which could affect the stairs and some of the tenants.