News RSS Feed


Brighton O set to be rejected by council

3:40pm Monday 1st February 2010 in


Experts have again recommended that plans for a 60 metre seafront ferris wheel should be turned down – despite emergency talks to try to save the project.

Paramount Attractions wanted to install the £6 million ride, dubbed the Brighton O, on the promenade opposite the Hilton Metropole hotel, in Kings Road, Brighton, for two years.

However Brighton and Hove City Council's planning department said it should be turned down because the site overlaps with the area where the permanent 150 metre i360 viewing tower is due to be built.

It is the second time they have reached the same conclusion.

The council's planning committee, made up of elected councillors, had been expected to make a final decision last month but Paramount negotiated a delay after the original recommendation to refuse it was published.

It appears the talks held since then have not changed the situation.

In his report to the committee, which will now consider the plans on Wednesday at Hove Town Hall, planning officer Christopher Wright said the new information "does not demonstrate that there is a mechanism to allow this scheme, in this specific location to gain consent without having a prejudicial impact on the i360 scheme".

The Brighton O has been supported by dozens of people, mostly businesses in the Regency Square area, who believe it will bring an economic boost and encourage regeneration.

However many others have objected to the scheme, including its nearest neighbours Brighton Sailing Club and the Metropole, because of the disruption they fear it will cause.

There is now speculation Paramount will consider another site on the seafront, possibly in Madeira Drive, but the company would not be drawn on the suggestion.

Comments(21)

Masterchav says...
4:39pm Mon 1 Feb 10

I would rather have a ride in a gigantic ferris wheel than go up a stupid tower to look at the roof of the Metropole hotel from some sort of lunatic viewing tower

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Christophe Hawtree says...
4:51pm Mon 1 Feb 10

It was of course from the Big Wheel in The Third Man that Harry Lime looked down and likened those on the ground in Vienna to ants nobody would miss. One sometimes feels, however, that in Brighton there is no need for a Wheel: those in authority seem to voice the same opinion at ground level when residents express a desire for something civilised, such as libraries.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Living in the real world says...
5:11pm Mon 1 Feb 10

Why not turn down the first planning application that was fully finded and ready to proceed.
There should be a cavat added to the planning behind the 360 stick that if it isn't built by 2012 they have to pay a penalty to the people behind the wheel.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

The Brighton Bear says...
5:13pm Mon 1 Feb 10

What a shame, just think of the boost to tourism that it would bring. Far better than an unused library.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

bug eye says...
5:25pm Mon 1 Feb 10

its amazing some of the housing tat that gets through but now something to be enjoyed by residents and tourists, kiss bye bye to developers wanting to help brighton and hove or any big business wishing to come to the city. smacks of sour grapes by i360 and probably a bit of back room shananigans.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

yorkie44 says...
5:27pm Mon 1 Feb 10

Why does anybody want to go up in the air just to see the sea? There is nothing else to view in Brighton unlike the many famous landmarks in London. Far better to take the bus to Devil's Dyke. These projects are doomed to failure. Brighton should make use of its natural features not build more fairground rides.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

worthinglogic says...
6:51pm Mon 1 Feb 10

The Brighton Bear wrote:
What a shame, just think of the boost to tourism that it would bring. Far better than an unused library.
Boost to tourism? You are kidding right? Who would travel to Brighton to go on an oversized ferris wheel? And no, it wouldn't be like the London Eye.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Andre Spooner says...
7:54pm Mon 1 Feb 10

I would hate to be trapped in one of the cabins of this wheel with an angry wasp or a hornet.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Whitedot says...
8:06pm Mon 1 Feb 10

Spend it on the West Pier or even some good causes instead, that's what the town needs, not more gimmicks for the hard of thinking.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

The Brighton Bear says...
8:10pm Mon 1 Feb 10

Whitedot wrote:
Spend it on the West Pier or even some good causes instead, that's what the town needs, not more gimmicks for the hard of thinking.
Apart from a rusting wreck in the sea there is no West Pier. Think clearly before you post.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Dave At Home says...
11:07pm Mon 1 Feb 10

The Brighton Bear wrote:
What a shame, just think of the boost to tourism that it would bring. Far better than an unused library.
The Council don't think like that, and as for the local paper The Evening Argus getting behind it and really promoting it (o sorry it's not local any more as it is printed further down the coast) but hey anything we the residents want never gets done. The Council could not even collect our bins today which is the right day but for some reason we were missed out again.... let's not dream about how great this so called City could be but live in the drudge of what the chosen ones want us to live in.

Election time is coming up soon and I am going to have a list of questions they can answer on my door step and if hey answer wrongly or don't even turn up they are not getting my vote, end of.....

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

codpiece says...
12:30am Tue 2 Feb 10

@Christophe Hawtree

Maybe time to let go of the Carnegie Library campaign Christopher!
Your rather contrived analogy between Wellesian and Hovian wheels suggests that your anger continues unabated, which will not be benefitting your health.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

stan bailey says...
7:19am Tue 2 Feb 10

yorkie44 wrote:
Why does anybody want to go up in the air just to see the sea? There is nothing else to view in Brighton unlike the many famous landmarks in London. Far better to take the bus to Devil's Dyke. These projects are doomed to failure. Brighton should make use of its natural features not build more fairground rides.
Totally agree, the race course is even nearer. what is the carbon footprint of a ferris wheel?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Tye says...
7:34am Tue 2 Feb 10

No drugs or maffia money being laundered then?

they'd get it off the ground (so to speak:) If they were!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

John60 says...
8:42am Tue 2 Feb 10

Why not just stick a Tesco local there instead? i'm sure the council would allow that! Such a pathetic rubbish council, I'd sack them all!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Christophe Hawtree says...
9:54am Tue 2 Feb 10

codpiece wrote:
@Christophe Hawtree
Maybe time to let go of the Carnegie Library campaign Christopher!
Your rather contrived analogy between Wellesian and Hovian wheels
suggests that your anger continues unabated, which will not be
benefitting your health.
Not anger, banter. Though others certainly suggest that residents' views are ignored over such things as library books. Indeed, the new Chief Executive has admitted as much.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

salty_pete says...
10:48am Tue 2 Feb 10

I wonder if the development company actually owns the land it intends to build this thing on. I thought all sea front land was owned by the council. So this company is asking to build a structure on land it doesn't own, then has a pop at the council that not only owns the land but controls development. Or have I got this all wrong?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jamus77 says...
11:01am Tue 2 Feb 10

At last some vocal descent about the ludicrous i360! I thought I was going mad. Can someone from the council come on here and explain why anyone is going to queue up to use this thing when there's nothing to see apart from Worthing Pier, Seaford Head and Whitehawk? Oh, and miles and miles of utterly featureless sea. It's not even anything to look at, like the Spinnaker tower, - just a great big lamppost! Some of the decisions made in this city baffle me.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

fascinator says...
12:51pm Tue 2 Feb 10

The Brighton Bear wrote:
What a shame, just think of the boost to tourism that it would bring. Far better than an unused library.
excuse me! I think you'll find that the correct term is.......Award winning unused library

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Wiggsy says...
1:02pm Tue 2 Feb 10

Given the lack or reporting or significant updates on the i360 over the numerous months that have passed us by, it appears that the Council have also binned plans for this too.

Perhaps they'll decide to build a paddling pool where the proposed ferris wheel was supposed to go instead!!!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Gaz the great says...
8:18pm Tue 2 Feb 10

Actually folks, i cannot see a reason for either the ferris wheel or the i360. Neither will enhance the seafront & visitors are put off by parking restrictions or costly trains running a poor service. The seaside boom had its day a generation ago!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

More News stories


Most popular







Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »

Local Businesses