A COUNCIL leader has said she is “bitterly disappointed” after the Madeira Terraces was pillaged in a series of raids.

Raiders stole ten tonnes of lead from the Grade II listed crumbling Brighton seafront arches over Christmas.

Brighton and Hove City Council, which owns the architecture, said there was no CCTV in place.

And Sussex Police have confirmed that no CCTV has been handed to them so far.

Council leader, Labour’s Nancy Platts, said: “I am bitterly disappointed about the recent theft – it’s totally unacceptable and an unwelcome setback. We have been focused on fundraising and works to restore the Madeira Arches, and we really appreciate the community support for these efforts. I will personally be looking for swift action and officers are redoubling efforts to restore this historic heritage site to its former glory.”

The council says it plans to install a temporary cover over the canopy roof of the Madeira Lift to prevent further deterioration.

It is also conducting a detailed assessment of the damage before deciding on the most appropriate course of action. Police are appealing for information about the the raids. They ask that anyone who saw anything suspicious or noted suspicious vehicles in the area, particularly if they may have mobile phone or dash-cam footage, to report details online or to call 101, quoting serial 315 of 26/12.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, telephone 0800 555 111.

The thefts came more than two years after a successful fundraiser to restore three of the 151 arches, which have been locked away behind a metal fence since 2012.

Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell Moyle said work has taken “far too long” and said the state of the decaying 2,837ft structure was a “stain on our city”.

Jax Atkins, from the Save Madeira Terraces Campaign, accused the council of wanting to see the Madeira Terrace “rot”.

Campaigners accused the council of “delaying tactics” and pointed to a 2017 crowdfunding campaign, organised by the council, which raised £463,007.

The aim of the fundraiser was to “restore at least three arches”.

But work has yet to start.

Instead, the council says that to benefit from “the economies of scale” a minimum of 30 arches must be restored at any one time.

However, the council does not have the money to fully implement the restoration of 30 arches.