IT is claimed that the Brighton Wheel cannot continue to operate because of apparent “detrimental” impact on local residents and the “height, scale and design of that structure” (The Argus, June 25).
Yet the Green and Tory councillors who voted for the i360 failed to apply such standards to the £46.2 million tower on our historic seafront.
The i360 now seem intent on squeezing any potential competition to their unpopular tower as well as attempting to stifle debate about it.
There are plenty of valid concerns about the way that the decision was made to build this tower, the funding of it, the effect on our heritage and the environmental impact.
As council taxpayers in this city, we will all have to pay back the loan from the Public Works Loans Board to the sum of £36.2 million, not to mention the various maintenance costs associated with it.
This Public Works Loan could have been spent on something more useful or necessary, such as affordable housing for our city.
It is also debatable whether this project is environmentally sound since there are various issues associated with it, including noise, extra traffic, conservation, use of resources and general disruption.
We need to hold the council and i360 to account for their actions – especially those Greens and Tories who voted for it – to ensure that the residents of Brighton and Hove get a better deal.
This should mean enforcing the planning conditions put on the i360, applying relevant bylaws and making sure that this development pays business rates in full.
The old British expression: “What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander” applies.
Rob Heale, Address supplied
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