A conservation society is asking the Government to scrutinise plans to revamp part of the seafront.

Brighton and Hove City Council has granted conservation area approval for the latest stage of its seafront development initiative.

This involves knocking down the walls of sunken gardens constructed near the West Pier in the Twenties, restoring the Victorian bandstand and putting in new landscaping plus a petanque piste.

But John Small, secretary of the Regency Society, said not enough information had been made available about the future plans.

He added: "I am also worried about the bandstand which is getting worse week by week."

Mr Small added: "This approval should be rescinded and no consent should be given. The planning committee decision made me angry."

He said the gardens, originally constructed to give work to unemployed men, were a feature of Brighton, appearing on a postcard being sold in the council's tourist office.