HERITAGE specialists claim plans to demolish Brighton’s Victorian seafront are “wrong” and that the world-renowned attraction could be saved at a fraction of the cost to knock it down.

Engineering experts working on behalf of the Victorian Society have described the job to restore and repair the Madeira Terraces for another century and beyond as a “piece of cake”.

The call comes as Brighton and Hove City Council announces its intention to bid for the maximum £4 million from from the Coastal Community Fund.

If successful, the bid would be the first significant slice of the £30 million cost to replace the seafront structure which council engineers claim is beyond repair.

Residents are still awaiting to see proposals for the iconic arches despite council leader Warren Morgan initially promising to reveal plans before Christmas.

The Victorian Society has called on the council to commission another full survey, this time with a firm with accredited historic buildings expertise.

The heritage group said they hoped to reach an agreement to preserve the terraces before public funds are invested in plans which could be contested at a later date.

As a last resort, the society can request the secretary of state to call-in any potential planning decision which it successfully did to save Smithfield Market in London in July 2014.

Experts examining the Madeira Terraces on Friday included Brian Morton of The Morton Partnership, which has worked on restoration projects across the country including Sheffield and Canterbury cathedrals, and Cedric Profitt, who worked on restoring The Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens.

Mr Morton said the cast-iron structure could be repaired section by section with any parts beyond repair easily replaced by re-mouldings.

He added: “Looking at the structure with our specialist knowledge, I think it could be restored at a half or even a third of the costs quoted at us by the council.

“It would be a relatively simple job to restore section by section, it could be carried out between summer seasons, it’s a piece of cake really."

Alex Bowring, Victorian Society conservation adviser, said: "We urge the council to commission a new full structural survey from a firm with proven historic buildings experience.

"Madeira Terrace is too important a Brighton landmark to rush into decisions about its future."

Council leader Warren Morgan said the council would welcome a further structural survey funded by the Victorian Society.

He added: "However that would not resolve the fundamental issue of paying for the restoration and regeneration of the Madeira Terraces and Arches.

"We are looking at bidding for up to the maximum £4 million of Government Coastal Communities Fund money but that in itself will not fund the scheme which will cost tens of millions based on the information we have from engineers."

A council spokesman added: “We are currently exploring how to fund a project that would also need to pay for maintaining the Madeira Terraces in good condition into the next century.

"We are planning to report back in the summer on what funding opportunities may be available for Madeira Terraces."