A public poll has revealed what people think of the membership prices of a new seafront pool.

Surveyed in The Argus, readers gave their thoughts on the newly released memberships to the Sea Lanes swimming pool.

The early bird memberships, announced on Tuesday, cost £45 a month.

Over 350 Argus readers voted in a poll asking for their thoughts on the pricing.

Almost 70 per cent, a total of 245 people, said it is too expensive, chiming with much of the public response when the memberships were first unveiled.

The operator South Downs Leisure defended the membership pricing, citing rising utility prices as a reason for the cost.

Speaking to The Argus earlier in the week, Duncan Anderson from South Downs Leisure, said the membership prices are “competitive”.

Around a quarter of those who voted, a total of 88 people, said the £45 a month fee is “about right”.

Mr Anderson added: “Our initial founder member offer rewards those signing up early and committing to membership while the project is still being built.

"Uptake for this early membership has been well received, with local residents excited to take the plunge while the build takes shape. Member prices will then increase marginally once the Founder Member offer ends.

"The developers – Sea Lanes Brighton, and the operators, South Downs Leisure, have agreed on pricing for memberships, hire and single use costs following research into other facilities and taking into account rising utility price rises.

"South Downs Leisure and Sea Lanes Brighton want to ensure that the Sea Lanes facility is sustainable, to safeguard the long-term operation and to help keep the community of Brighton active and healthy."

The early bird memberships are available now and are limited to the first 500 people to sign up, or to December 23, whichever comes first.

At present, the price of a pay-per-swim option has not yet been confirmed, but a spokesman for Sea Lanes said it would be around £10 per swim.

Just 30 people, less than 10 per cent of Argus readers surveyed, said they would pay more for the membership.