£1m arches work paving way for i360

An artist's impression of the i360 An artist's impression of the i360

Structural work will begin next week to pave the way for the i360.

From Monday, Brighton and Hove City Council will start repairing the Kings Road Arches near the West Pier.

The council will spend more than £1million repairing the Victorian structures which they hope will improve the appearance of the seafront ahead of the i360 development.

A council spokeswoman said detailed costs had not yet been finalised.

She added: “They were built during the reign of Queen Victoria and after 120 years it’s time for the Kings Road Arches, which support the promenade between Alfresco’s restaurant and the new i360 development, to be replaced.

“The work to rebuild, strengthen and refurbish the historic arches will begin on Monday, and last for an estimated 50 weeks. The majority of these arches are not in use, with the remainder being used for storage.”

The arches which form part of the Brighton i360 development are separate to those being improved.

Long-term support

These belong to the West Pier Trust and will also have to undergo work ahead of the viewing tower’s construction.

Council leader Jason Kitcat said: “Following the results from the most recent structural survey the council is carrying out major repairs which will help support the highway and new businesses in the arches for at least another 120 years.”

Businesses on the lower promenade and seafront are due to remain open as usual throughout the works but the upper promenade will be closed between Alfresco’s restaurant and the West Pier.

A spokesman for Marks Barfield, the architects building the i360, said the work, not directly linked to their plans, would help to improve the general appearance to the area.

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Comments(27)

HJarrs says...
2:15pm Fri 2 Nov 12

So, before the trolls arrive can we have few clarifications Argus?

1. Is this part of the i360 project costs already agreed or is it additional?
2. Is it that this work needs to be done anyway and is taking advantage of the i360 works to deliver the works more efficiently?
3. Or is it, like the Labour and Conservatives did by spending millions on road improvements from council tax to improve access to the new Albion stadium, for the sole benefit of the i360 project?

Over to the trolls...

Pebbles says...
2:18pm Fri 2 Nov 12

Its a shame that the council in the 70's didnt spend this type of money on repairs to the pier.

However, the i360 wil lnever be built and what is believed to be actually happening is that the council is revamping the area, including several arches, so that these can be leased out to form additional income.

And did I state that the i360 will never be built?

John Fallon says...
2:18pm Fri 2 Nov 12

Well, I hope those arches can now be used for something, rather than remaining vacant. If the i360 is a success (yes, that's a big if), then there will be tourists who will need services and shops that could be in those arches. And has any S106 money been used to help pay for the refurbishments?

mustaphaLeeko says...
2:25pm Fri 2 Nov 12

HJarrs wrote:
So, before the trolls arrive can we have few clarifications Argus?

1. Is this part of the i360 project costs already agreed or is it additional?
2. Is it that this work needs to be done anyway and is taking advantage of the i360 works to deliver the works more efficiently?
3. Or is it, like the Labour and Conservatives did by spending millions on road improvements from council tax to improve access to the new Albion stadium, for the sole benefit of the i360 project?

Over to the trolls...
Did you not read the story before posting?????

"The arches which form part of the Brighton i360 development are separate to those being improved. "

"A spokesman for Marks Barfield, the architects building the i360, said the work, not directly linked to their plans, would help to improve the general appearance to the area. "

So, NO, it is nothing to do with the i360 costs, the council are simply doing it to improve the seafront appearance just as the story says!!!

And given that the only "traffic" to the i360 is by foot or bicycle, hardly likely to be required for that is it?

“Following the results from the most recent structural survey the council is carrying out major repairs which will help support the highway and new businesses in the arches for at least another 120 years.”

"The majority of these arches are not in use, with the remainder being used for storage.”

Like the story says most of the arches are derelict/sotrage so improving them to make them useable for business is a good idea!

As for the rest of your comments... who knows!

.Simples....

Crystal Ball says...
2:28pm Fri 2 Nov 12

Will there be a loan for these works too?

mustaphaLeeko says...
2:38pm Fri 2 Nov 12

Pebbles wrote:
Its a shame that the council in the 70's didnt spend this type of money on repairs to the pier.

However, the i360 wil lnever be built and what is believed to be actually happening is that the council is revamping the area, including several arches, so that these can be leased out to form additional income.

And did I state that the i360 will never be built?
What are you raving on about ?????

It has the money already, FACT, and planning permission, the temporary market on the seafront is being moved, and they are starting work early next year after the winter weather which isn't conducive to laying concrete etc !!!!!

It is opening end March 2015.

Please go eat your words!

funkyyoyo says...
2:40pm Fri 2 Nov 12

good,nice to see the councils found some spare cash,could you now concentrate on making the illegal parkings bays in and around brighton LEGAL!!! £30 per bay (problem been there for at least 7years)

Somethingsarejustwrong says...
2:55pm Fri 2 Nov 12

Some of the regular posters on this site seem obsessed about preserving all the less good parts and features of Brighton, rather than allowing and supporting change to create a fantastic future.

Who cares where the cash comes from when its such an exciting project. I'd wager that we waste a similar level of cash as the overall project development annually on the so called workshy vagrant and homeless folks, who add no value to anyone.

Bring it on and a big well done to all involved to date.

Pebbles says...
5:56pm Fri 2 Nov 12

mustaphaLeeko wrote:
Pebbles wrote: Its a shame that the council in the 70's didnt spend this type of money on repairs to the pier. However, the i360 wil lnever be built and what is believed to be actually happening is that the council is revamping the area, including several arches, so that these can be leased out to form additional income. And did I state that the i360 will never be built?
What are you raving on about ????? It has the money already, FACT, and planning permission, the temporary market on the seafront is being moved, and they are starting work early next year after the winter weather which isn't conducive to laying concrete etc !!!!! It is opening end March 2015. Please go eat your words!
Well... lets not get into a spat here :)

When I see the hole being dug and the foundations put in that is the time when I will "Eat my words" ;)

Somethingsarejustwrong says...
6:13pm Fri 2 Nov 12

Pebbles wrote:
mustaphaLeeko wrote:
Pebbles wrote: Its a shame that the council in the 70's didnt spend this type of money on repairs to the pier. However, the i360 wil lnever be built and what is believed to be actually happening is that the council is revamping the area, including several arches, so that these can be leased out to form additional income. And did I state that the i360 will never be built?
What are you raving on about ????? It has the money already, FACT, and planning permission, the temporary market on the seafront is being moved, and they are starting work early next year after the winter weather which isn't conducive to laying concrete etc !!!!! It is opening end March 2015. Please go eat your words!
Well... lets not get into a spat here :)

When I see the hole being dug and the foundations put in that is the time when I will "Eat my words" ;)
You would have done well to apologise, rather than making a patronising comment.

Now everyone can see just how ridiculous your comments are.

Maxwell's Ghost says...
7:20pm Fri 2 Nov 12

I love the artists impressionist of the cycle lane..... helmets on all cyclists and not a pedestrian or dog in it.
Have they been to Brighton?

John Steed says...
7:22pm Fri 2 Nov 12

loadsamoney being spent but as usual not a red cent on the pier, pebbles may well apolgise some time very soon, but I wiil run naked the length of the west pier if it ever gets rebuilt, somehow I am fairly certain that I have little worry about ending up in front of the beak for offending public decency.
infact with the west pier trust probally is the only charity set up to restore something whilst infact overseeing its total destruction, still I can at least say that I had been on it when it was opento the public at the turnof the 70's, something I believe half the trust cannot claim to have done.

davidbrianjones says...
10:00pm Fri 2 Nov 12

But why are the West Pier Trust being so secretive? The tower will generate funds to restore the pier in its historic form - but somehow they seem to have forgotten about this, and are now only mentioning a "heritage centre".
Remember what your mission is West Pier Trust!!!! We want the West Pier !!

funkyyoyo says...
10:50pm Fri 2 Nov 12

Somethingsarejustwro
ng
wrote:
Some of the regular posters on this site seem obsessed about preserving all the less good parts and features of Brighton, rather than allowing and supporting change to create a fantastic future.

Who cares where the cash comes from when its such an exciting project. I'd wager that we waste a similar level of cash as the overall project development annually on the so called workshy vagrant and homeless folks, who add no value to anyone.

Bring it on and a big well done to all involved to date.
the i360 sounds as exciting as my last ...ing girlfriend!!!!

Bristol VR says...
11:03pm Fri 2 Nov 12

Complete waste of money and an obscene amount of money wasted by the City Council on lending the i360 the funds when the rest of us are having to endure severe cuts in essential services.I am all for promoting this city but do something about London & Lewes Roads first before this hideous waste of our cash.

Pebbles says...
2:42am Sat 3 Nov 12

Somethingsarejustwro
ng
wrote:
Pebbles wrote:
mustaphaLeeko wrote:
Pebbles wrote: Its a shame that the council in the 70's didnt spend this type of money on repairs to the pier. However, the i360 wil lnever be built and what is believed to be actually happening is that the council is revamping the area, including several arches, so that these can be leased out to form additional income. And did I state that the i360 will never be built?
What are you raving on about ????? It has the money already, FACT, and planning permission, the temporary market on the seafront is being moved, and they are starting work early next year after the winter weather which isn't conducive to laying concrete etc !!!!! It is opening end March 2015. Please go eat your words!
Well... lets not get into a spat here :) When I see the hole being dug and the foundations put in that is the time when I will "Eat my words" ;)
You would have done well to apologise, rather than making a patronising comment. Now everyone can see just how ridiculous your comments are.
Really cannot see for the life of me where any of my comments were 'patronising'.

Isn't it a shame that some people feel the need to antagonize ;)

When this scheme was first announced a couple of years ago I was extremely excited about it. But then having looked into economics, and having spoken to various parties, I can see that it is all fantasy.

I have an opinion, the same as John Holland, that the i360 will never be built.

The sums do not add up. It is a non-viable business which will not make money.

No investor is going to pour money into a scheme if it doesn't look as if there is a return.

Planning permission actually means very little. Anyone can put in a planning application for anywhere.

I could put in for planning permission to rebuild the pier back to its former splendor which would probably be passed.

However, its the bricks and mortar that count.

I really believe it is all 'pie in the sky' ;)

Pebbles says...
2:49am Sat 3 Nov 12

John Steed wrote:
loadsamoney being spent but as usual not a red cent on the pier, pebbles may well apolgise some time very soon, but I wiil run naked the length of the west pier if it ever gets rebuilt, somehow I am fairly certain that I have little worry about ending up in front of the beak for offending public decency. infact with the west pier trust probally is the only charity set up to restore something whilst infact overseeing its total destruction, still I can at least say that I had been on it when it was opento the public at the turnof the 70's, something I believe half the trust cannot claim to have done.
John Steed "..........still I can at least say that I had been on it when it was opento the public at the turnof the 70's, something I believe half the trust cannot claim to have done."

Me too, played on the pier as a youngster during the 70's.. and even watched the filming of 'Carry On Girls' where the chase scene took place on the go-karts. :)

Cash Cow says...
6:37am Sat 3 Nov 12

I find it difficult to believe the beautiful West Pier was left to rot and now the area is to be revamped with such a piece of junk. Who really thinks people will flock to Brighton in their thousands to pay for a ride in an elevator, to see what?

Cash Cow says...
6:47am Sat 3 Nov 12

The i360, sounds like a mobile phone. Could not BHCC run a competition through The Argus to call it something more appropriate? For example it could be named in honour of the departing bus company boss "The French Erection" or simply call it "The Doughnut" representing any recent Council Leader or local MP.

Maxwell's Ghost says...
8:31am Sat 3 Nov 12

Good idea cash cow. We could get councillor Ben Duncan to open it.....Duncan Doughnut.

BornInBrighton1968 says...
9:03am Sat 3 Nov 12

It is now time for the incompetent Green council to be forcibly removed from power, and central government to administrate in Brighton until a by-election can be called.

'Brussels' Lucas and her Green marxist loons are out of control, and doing terrible damage to our city

mustaphaLeeko says...
11:25am Sat 3 Nov 12

Pebbles wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro

ng
wrote:
Pebbles wrote:
mustaphaLeeko wrote:
Pebbles wrote: Its a shame that the council in the 70's didnt spend this type of money on repairs to the pier. However, the i360 wil lnever be built and what is believed to be actually happening is that the council is revamping the area, including several arches, so that these can be leased out to form additional income. And did I state that the i360 will never be built?
What are you raving on about ????? It has the money already, FACT, and planning permission, the temporary market on the seafront is being moved, and they are starting work early next year after the winter weather which isn't conducive to laying concrete etc !!!!! It is opening end March 2015. Please go eat your words!
Well... lets not get into a spat here :) When I see the hole being dug and the foundations put in that is the time when I will "Eat my words" ;)
You would have done well to apologise, rather than making a patronising comment. Now everyone can see just how ridiculous your comments are.
Really cannot see for the life of me where any of my comments were 'patronising'.

Isn't it a shame that some people feel the need to antagonize ;)

When this scheme was first announced a couple of years ago I was extremely excited about it. But then having looked into economics, and having spoken to various parties, I can see that it is all fantasy.

I have an opinion, the same as John Holland, that the i360 will never be built.

The sums do not add up. It is a non-viable business which will not make money.

No investor is going to pour money into a scheme if it doesn't look as if there is a return.

Planning permission actually means very little. Anyone can put in a planning application for anywhere.

I could put in for planning permission to rebuild the pier back to its former splendor which would probably be passed.

However, its the bricks and mortar that count.

I really believe it is all 'pie in the sky' ;)
May I point out some glaring errors in from your statements, you have obviously not followed the progress of this scheme...

1. They already have money from investors (over 50% of the total required actually), this is ring-fenced and was a requirement before any loan could be considered.

2. The figures for use of the attraction were independently verified by people not involved in any way with the i360, and were found to be VIABLE even at the lowest levels of predicted use.

3. They have already started work clearing out the site ready to start construction.

Are you just posting to get these sort of responses, as it's just making you seem a little daft?

BornInBrighton1968 says...
12:45pm Sat 3 Nov 12

Anybody hear Pippa Bartolotti's (Welsh leader of the Green party) comment that if the Green party ever formed a national government (God help us if they did), they would abolish border controls? Check her website for verification.

I don't know if there is a precedent for this, but the Green's have to be removed from power in Brighton, and central government administrate in Brighton until a by-election can take place.

Green Cllr. Ben Duncan still wants public money to be spent on an assessment as to how car drivers in Brighton can be banned from smoking when children are in a car. Never mind silly stuff like homelessness, poverty etc, lets concentrate on the really important stuff like banning people from smoking in cars....

davidbrianjones says...
3:38pm Sat 3 Nov 12

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
I love the artists impressionist of the cycle lane..... helmets on all cyclists and not a pedestrian or dog in it.
Have they been to Brighton?
Well done Sir! We need people like you to make sure everything runs smoothly.
I for one will be on the look out for any suspect dogs, and perhaps you could help by communicating with the any naughty cyclist, and closely inspecting their helmets. Sound like fun!

Maxwell's Ghost says...
10:39am Sun 4 Nov 12

I got knocked off my bike in the lane and suffered a broken collar bone. The dog was on an extendable lead, the owner let it out and it bolted across the path and myself and a young lady came off our bikes.
Cost to the NHS and ambulance, a few thousand pounds.
It's a simple observation. The lane needs a slightly raised kerb on the shared side to make it more obvious its not a shared lane.

Hove Actually says...
1:12pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
I got knocked off my bike in the lane and suffered a broken collar bone. The dog was on an extendable lead, the owner let it out and it bolted across the path and myself and a young lady came off our bikes.
Cost to the NHS and ambulance, a few thousand pounds.
It's a simple observation. The lane needs a slightly raised kerb on the shared side to make it more obvious its not a shared lane.
I think you cyclists have had quite enough of Brighton & Hove's cash at the moment, if you want a delineation try riding in the road and leave the "pavement" to us pedestrians

davidbrianjones says...
10:02am Thu 8 Nov 12

"The planned "Big Wheel" on the Thames in London will be the most hideous eyesore, and will prove nothing but a money-guzzler. What a waste of cash!!!!" Who wants to go up in the air by means of such a structure anyway? there are plenty of towers all over town that provide an aerial view of the fog down below."

(Comment made by an "informed" reader of a London newspaper in January 1999)

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