Sydney has a monorail and Shanghai wants one. It is, some say, the transport of the future for the world's top cities.

David Courtney, the publicity brain behind Brighton Marina, believes the new city of Brighton and Hove should also be looking along these lines.

He reckons a monorail, stretching along the seafront from the marina to Shoreham Harbour, could be an ideal solution to congestion.

And the idea has found favour among his contemporaries.

But questions have been raised about how such a scheme would be funded, and whether it would fit in with the resort's Regency splendour.

Mr Courtney said: "I saw how well it worked in Sydney, which didn't embrace it at first, but now it has become a major visitor attraction.

"We are becoming increasingly gridlocked in this city, so I am certainly pro-monorail. Brighton and Hove is a city suited to a monorail.

"We have a funky, forward-thinking city and this would form part of it."

He accepted there would be opposition from conservationists but added: "We have got a city which is a melting pot of people and ideas.

"Quite a few people have discussed a monorail in private and it is something I would like to carry on looking into."

Simon Fanshawe, who co-ordinated Brighton and Hove's successful bid for city status, was also very enthusiastic.

He said: "What I love about these wild ideas is they show creativity about how to resolve problems excitingly.

"Years ago, there was a great proposal to put a road underneath King's Road, with a Perspex window so you could look out to sea.

"There is no doubt about it, we need to find a way for people to get around the city that doesn't involve more cars.

"I welcome any exciting ideas that contribute to the debate."

The idea of a monorail along the promenade is not as outlandish as it sounds.

In the last years of Queen Victoria's reign, a quirky form of transport nicknamed Daddy Long Legs ran three miles along the beach from the Banjo Groyne, Kemp Town, to Rottingdean.

The Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Railway opened in 1896 and ran on rails that were covered by the sea at high tide.

A 36-ton car called the Pioneer, on four long legs, carried passengers at a stately pace above the waves. But the great storm later that year, which wrecked the Chain Pier, damaged the line and in 1900 the service was scrapped.

The Daddy Long Legs was the brainchild of the engineering genius Magnus Volk, whose more conventional light electric railway still operates.

Last week, we reported how there were plans to extend the line, which carries 100,000 passengers a year, from Black Rock to the marina.

Brighton historian Chris Horlock believes it would take an entrepreneur with the imagination of Volks to get a monorail up and running.

He said: "In principle, I think it could be a good idea. Most novelty rides along the seafront have proved popular over the years.

"It would have to be carefully thought out but could be viable and another phase of the very successful seafront improvement scheme."

Transport Minister John Prescott has spoken in favour of light railways or tram systems to relieve congested roads, so a monorail could find favour with the Government.

But Councillor John Ballance, spokesman for environment on Brighton and Hove City Council, was more cautious.

He said: "How could you stand it up financially? It really would involve a huge capital cost and massive private investment.

"I am not opposed to the idea. I think it would be great if we could have some kind of urban rail development in our transport system.

"A link between central Brighton and the marina is possible. I am always interested in looking at any potential schemes."

Mr Courtney concluded: "Momentum is gathering and it is my intention to spearhead the campaign and to formulate a special steering committee for the project that will include leading business civic individuals and celebrities within the city.

"I have already started the ball rolling and secured the support of the proprietors of the marina.

"I find this a very exciting project and one that I would love to see come to fruition. As you can appreciate there is a great deal of work and research to be done.

"But the support of the community of Brighton and Hove is of paramount importance and would be first on the agenda.

"It's quite ironic that I will be following in the footsteps of my uncle, Henry Cohen, in regard to spearheading a major project for the city.

"Henry had a dream to build a marina for Brighton and was undoubtedly a man of vision. I hope that I can follow in his footsteps."