CAMPAIGNERS are demanding the council invests more than £1,250,000 of parking revenue in Madeira Terrace.

Cruel coastal weather and years of neglect have left 151 crumbling arches in Brighton’s Madeira Drive in an increasing state of disrepair.

The road generates £1,274,000 in parking revenue across five machines and two pay-by-phone sites yearly.

Currently, funds are spent on the 21 bus route and over-65s bus passes.

But campaigners who want to see the Grade-II listed Victorian structure restored to its former glory say the money should be spent on regeneration.

Jax Atkins, from the Save Madeira Terraces campaign, said: “These arches are the window to Brighton and they must be brought back from the brink of total collapse.

“Time is running out and we must act fast to prevent further deterioration and additional costs.”

Surplus income generated from parking is governed by Section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act.

The act states money must be spent on the provision of public transport services or to road, air quality or environmental improvements.

Mrs Atkins said: “Our group has long called for the revenue from parking along Madeira Drive to be diverted to the refurbishment of the terraces. Surely a new act can change where it goes? Surely not everything is written in stone?”

A petition, called “Parking saves the arches”, has been started by resident Russell Smith. Mr Smith is not linked to the Save Madeira Terraces Campaign.

His petition says: “We the undersigned petition Brighton and Hove Council to lobby Government for a one-off special status to use parking revenue generated on Madeira Drive to invest in the arches restoration.”

The petition will run until April 29 and will be presented to the council’s policy and resources committee the day after.

This comes after the council was accused of letting the arches rot. Copper and lead were stolen from the terrace in a series of raids over Christmas.

Two years ago there was a successful fundraiser to restore three of the 151 arches, which have been locked behind a metal fence since 2012. Work is still yet to start on the crowdfunded arches. The council is currently attempting to procure a design team.

A council spokeswoman said: “By law, any surplus generated by parking fees and charges must be spent on provision of public transport services or to road, air quality or environmental improvements.

“Brighton and Hove City Council uses its surplus to provide concessionary bus passes for older and disabled people, subsidising bus routes, road safety and transport improvement projects.”