Councillors Call For Apology Over Brighton's Madeira Terraces Restoration Delay

Conservative councillors are calling for an apology for the delays in restoring Madeira Terraces after Labour ordered a review of the engineering techniques.

Restoration work was originally planned to start this summer for the arches from the Royal Crescent steps to the west to the shelter hall in the east and was pushed back to the autumn.

Conservative group leader councillor Alistair McNair is putting a motion to full council on Thursday 20 July, asking councillors to “note the disappointment” felt by campaign groups and residents that the work is delayed and for the apology.

He wants councillors to acknowledge the potential increased costs of the delay and asks that work start in Spring to renovate all 151 arches.

“So to ensure we’re managing potential future escalation of costs as effectively as possible, we’re doing further work to consider which engineering techniques offer the best value going forward."

Councillor McNair also wants regular updates on the restoration process and an officer report on funding.

He said:

“In the past, day-trippers would have promenaded amongst them (the arches), looking in at the shops, enjoying the sea breezes, or sheltering from the rain.

“They were designed to encourage walking along the seafront, to encourage dawdling, to encourage relaxation.

“Now, all they encourage are complaints. They stand, barely, as a reprimand to the city – look how far we have fallen.

“On one side, we have the West Pier, falling into the sea, and the i360 – endlessly in debt to the tune of millions.

“At the other end, the arches – a crumbling relic of our glorious past. And the arches have been closed for 10 years.

“Residents are rightly upset that the council has yet again postponed the restoration of the arches. And when I say restoration, I only mean 40 of the 151 arches.”

News of the delay caused upset for Save Madeira Terraces campaigner Jax Atkins, a council advisory panel member.

When the delay was announced, she said:

“I’m really upset, and so, so cross, and a large proportion of Brighton will be too.

“Nothing has been done, just loads of talk.”

Lead councillor for heritage, Labour’s Alan Robins, said when the delay was announced, the project is not under review.

He said the increased costs of building materials and labour are affecting the project, and the council is checking to make sure the engineering gives good value for money.

Brighton and Hove City Council secured planning permission for the work in November 2022, and preparations and “propping” work started in January.

The Madeira Terraces is a grade II listed, 865-metre-long stretch of seafront arches on Madeira Drive.

Originally built in the late 1800s, it has been closed to the public since 2012 as the marine environment has degraded the structure and become unsafe.

Brighton and Hove City Council is due to meet at Hove Town Hall at 4.30pm on Thursday 20 July. The meeting is scheduled to be webcast on the council’s website.