Can you imagine the fuss there would be if Brighton and Hove City Council decided to demolish one of the finest examples of art deco architecture in Britain?

That is exactly what the old Brighton Borough Council did 25 years ago with the magnificent Black Rock open-air swimming pool in Kemp Town and any moans there were centred more on the loss of the pool than on the loss of such a remarkable building.

Since then there have been various attempts to put up a replacement attraction there, punctuated by a period when Southern Water used the site as access for its new stormwater tunnel.

Now the future of Black Rock is once against under consideration and the city council is looking at three schemes submitted for it.

There is a fourth if you count the Southern Water proposals to use it as a sewage works but, of the eight possible sites submitted by the water giant, this is the one that should be immediately rejected.

The previous schemes for leisure both concentrated on flumes, white water at Black Rock. They fell because of protracted opposition from the posh people of Kemp Town and lack of cash and commitment from councillors at that time.

This time the main theme appears to be ice, which is prominent in two of them. Skaters feel strongly it is far too long since they had a decent full-sized rink in Brighton and they are right. It is the best part of 40 years.

Brighton International Ice Arena proposes two rinks, one of which could also be used for other events. There would also be bars, restaurants and shops and there could also be homes provided in a sail-shaped tower.

It's imaginative and it also has strong backing from international ice stars who happen to live locally, such as Robin Cousins and Jayne Torville. This scheme could well start as the favourite.

The Coot Consortium offers an arena, which could stage skating and shows, plus a 180-room hotel with water sports activities. This could include indoor surfing on a standing wave machine. There would also be a cinema and plenty of housing. Everything offered here is badly needed in Brighton.

But the third scheme, which does not feature ice at all, is the one which best fits into a landscape which is of magnificent quality. Black Rock is almost below the Grade I buildings of Lewes Crescent and adjoins the magnificent, if rather shabby, Kemp Town Slopes.

The Brighton-based RH Partnership is in a consortium for a scheme including a 250-room, four-star hotel, a spa, seaside winter gardens and conference rooms. It has been designed in a green manner complementing the existing buildings in this part of Brighton.

When I went to see the three schemes in an exhibition, there was little doubt this one was architecturally the most pleasing, with the lawns revitalised and the creation of a mini Eden Project in the winter gardens.

Both they and the proposed spa hark back to the balmy days of Prinny and sea water cures.

It's a tricky choice for the council. All three schemes have a great deal to offer and whichever one is chosen will be a boon for that end of Brighton. But while I have a sneaking liking for the winter gardens and the spa, I fancy that ice in one form of another will win the day.

We will know soon what they have decided. Difficult though this decision will be, it will be a picnic compared with what will be proposed for the King Alfred centre in Hove where a new leisure scheme is equally needed. More about that in March.