WORK has begun on a temporary cover on the Madeira Terrace lift after a series of raids.

However, no work is currently taking place on shelters where ten tonnes of lead was stolen in the latest problem for Brighton’s crumbling seafront arches.

Thieves attacked the Grade II listed structure over a number of nights during the Christmas period.

Brighton and Hove City Council, which owns the terrace, is stripping back the middle level roof on the Madeira lift and putting up temporary covering.

But, due to access constraints, no work is starting on the shelters which were also raided.

Conservative councillor for Wish Ward Robert Nemeth will be demanding answers from the council at a meeting on Thursday.

He is expected to ask the likely cost of the repairs that will now be necessary following the recent theft – and the approximate annual cost of security measures that might have been taken to avoid such an incident happening in the first place.

He said: “The Conservative group is particularly concerned by the lack of progress on this project and numerous others such as the King Alfred and Black Rock.

“Madeira Terraces is another example of things simply not working in Brighton and Hove, contrary to the approach in all surrounding towns.

“I hope that a day comes when residents say that enough is enough.”

This comes after council leader Nancy Platts pledged a “redoubling of efforts” following the raids over Christmas. The Labour councillor 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 police said no CCTV had been handed to them following an appeal. And the council said no CCTV was in place at the time.

However, it said it was conducting a detailed assessment of the damage before deciding on the most appropriate course of action.

Police are appealing for information about 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, witnesses can 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 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”.

l Design team will starts soon – Nancy Platts column