The long-awaited start of work on the first phase of the Madeira Terrace restoration has been delayed.
A year ago, work was due to start this summer. By the time planning permission was granted in November, the date had slipped to autumn.
Now, following last month’s elections, Labour says it is reviewing the engineering techniques before appointing a contractor to avoid rising costs.
The news has infuriated campaigner Jax Atkins, who has helped raise thousands of pounds towards the restoration.
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. There is even an advisory panel made up of so-called normal people like me.
“They are meant to act on what we agree but it doesn’t happen! It’s just delaying tactics.
“All along I have said there’s no way they will commence work in autumn. Although I knew this would happen, to have it confirmed infuriates me unbelievably.”
Green leader Steve Davis said: “This is yet another occasion where Labour seems to think they know better, but are not presenting their evidence.
“When there was no overall control of the council, we had a working group where Labour members were invited to input into the decisions alongside Greens.
“We worked hard on the tendering process and decided on a two stage process to get the best contractor.
“Decisions were put in place based on the structural survey and there was extensive consultation regarding the engineering options in terms of cost, disruption to green wall, longevity and so on.
“Labour have now scrapped that working group, but they must still be accountable to the city.
“If they have new ideas, they need to propose them openly so residents can be reassured that this delay is worthwhile.
“Labour also need to offer residents financial reassurance, as delays will raise costs further.
“Inflation in the building industry is higher than CPI, which means any delays will have a big impact on the budget and likely make the situation worse.
“This is far from practising the financial responsibility that Labour have been preaching.”
Lead councillor for heritage, Labour’s Alan Robins said: “Preparatory works at Madeira Terrace have already begun and are ongoing.
“The restoration project is not under review. But the escalating costs of building materials and labour are affecting projects both locally and nationally.
“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.
“This work will be completed before we look to appoint a contractor.
“We will have a final agreed programme for the restoration when a contractor has been appointed.
“We will be appointing a contractor later this year, with a view to starting the main dismantling work on site next spring.”
The Madeira Terraces are a Grade 2 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 structure has been degraded by the marine environment and become unsafe.
The arches earmarked for the first phase stretch from Royal Crescent steps to the west to the shelter hall in the east.
This Sunday, a classic car meet at the Roedean Cafe will raise funds for the Save Madeira Terraces campaign.
Owners of classic cars are invited to come along from 3pm to 6pm, with donations to the fund welcome.
I knew it all along, yet more delays will increase costs and the state of the Terraces further deteriorates
Apparently everyone knows this, except the council.
I do hope they use a local building company to do the works and not some body from London that will travel down every day making the job twice as long and twice as expensive.
tbh you seem to not have a clue about how the construction industry works at this scale.
Furious at further delay. The incompetence surrounding this project has delayed it’s repair and multiplied the costs. Such total disregard for a listed structure so important to the character of our city beggars belief.
Insanity to me, the money has been raised to “begin” the restoration, yes “building ” supplies have escalated. I’m curious if the “new contractor” when decided is appointed by the group mainly Jax or the council and more to the point, I’m assuming there will be “yet” another survey needed etc , does this cost come out of the funds raised by Jax and local businesses or the the council of whom have delayed it..more than once I believe??
Probably out of the MT restoration funding but check with your councillors
If they were so bothered about rising costs open up Madeira Drive and allow cars to park there to raise money. Idiot council. Unacceptable that there are more delays to a project that is so important for the heritage of our City, tourism and local residents.
Cars already do park there. There is no other spaces to open up to allow that.
Parking income cant be spent on anything else but transport
People may have criticised the Greens but they’re the only ones who have actually progressed council plans on this with tens of millions allocated and things set to start this year. Labour did nothing 2015-2019(/2020) and now back in charge are intent on throwing out the scheme. A delay for pointless reasons is tantamount to cancelling it when construction costs are now going to go up beyond the money available.
Thank hod they got voted out, they would have put a cycle lane on the terraces as part of their plans. I’d rather the Tories than those bunch of hippies!
Quite right! Whoever thought that kicking out the Greens and ushering in Labour would be an improvement? They are like two buttocks of the same bum.
yeah we want more tory cuts!
Many of us cycle to reduce pollution and reduce catastrophic climate change. Car related pollution is known to affect intelligence , proven I think by the above comment.
The inept allocation of contracts by the Greens over the work on Blackrock regeneration had to be seen to be believed . Plant costing thousands of pounds a day standing idle for months on end hundreds of thousands spent on supposedly appropriate trees that were planted and when we had the first storm we’re destroyed . And their jewel in the crown the refusal to listen to Labour who explained and refused to back the I365 loan guarantee of 36 million pounds which costs us and has done for years 8 thousand pounds every day and will do for years . There are difficult decisions to made but we do not want another multi million overspend which the greens approved for Blackrock instead of holding incompetent and inept contractors to their contractual obligations.
You should research the facts – the council has been making £1 million a year fro mtge i360. Less than expected but still good for all of us who pay council tax and use services. No plant was idle, or ever used at Blackrock, or trees destroyed. Don’t believe everything you are told. The Greens have made this a much more pleasant city to live in, including the walk from the Level down through Victoria Gardens, which is now a real pleasure, and making cycling safer. We have more cyclists, more pedestrians and less cars because of the changes they have brought in.
Trees were not destroyed, go and have a look
Agreed all the drivists who were so blinded by self-interest that they voted in this incompetent Labour council should be hanging their heads in shame
What’s a drivist?
They need to rethink the whole project. Refurbishing them like for like is just throwing money down the drain – they fell into disrepair because they weren’t used, in part because that road is a glorified car park. Why would anyone want to walk behind a load of parked cars? If the council were sensible they’d find a way to make money from the investment by incorperating buildings into the plan, such as Box Park or even a hotel. Combine that with pedestrianisation and the area might be appealing! Unfortunately, the loud, often elderly, minority (such as “Jax”) insist on retaining a Victorian relic in 2023 and as a result our tax is going to be wasted on a vanity project which will likely never receive funding to complete the whole thing.
This sounds harsh but walking behind a car park is not attractive . In the old photos there were no cars of course and none of the buildings now popping up on the beach itself . So it had uninterrupted views . Will it be a dark grubby corridor full of exhaust fumes ? The illustration shows only a few cars parked but will that be the case ? One certainly wouldn’t want to sit on a bench staring at parked cars
But if it’s left it remains a rotting eyesore
To remove it all would cost millions too
I feel the commercial outlets should have been integrated into the arches maybe and not built all over the beach blocking the views , That could have paid for their restoration
Then the upper promenades could be made useable again where one sees over the cars and one is sitting / walking in fresh air with great views
To be honest like the ugly rotting hulk of the old pier in Hove it’s been a catalogue of corruption and spectacular incompetence
I agree
English Heritage have say as well, not just the council or the residents . Overnight accommodation is prohibited on MD so no hotel or holiday homes. An Eastern Seafront Masterplan is being drawn up and that will be put out consultation.
West pier: ignore until ready to fall down then declare it too far gone to repair.
Sounds like labour trying to prove they have a bigger *****! Simply unbelievable! The tory party dressed in red!!
Just another example of how the civil servants are so incapable of doing their jobs. A tender process has already been completed with engineering designs – jusy get on with it and stop wasting time and money with all the procrastinating. Are the delays and reviews likely to save sufficientbcosts on tge project to warrant the costs being incurred? Sounds to me like a load of civil servants shuffling paper again trying to justify their existance. JUST GET THE JOB DONE!
Delaybour Party
If the reasons Labour give are sensible and appropriate, then they should spell out – precisely – why they have introduced a further delay. If they don’t, they risk losing a lot of face and possibly power at the next local elections. It’s not good enough for people on here to hurl abuse – they don’t have the knowledge regarding the delay and are just (understandably) frustrated. Difference is, the Council do – and they need to explain things rather better than currently.
What did i say, just a couple of days ago, all the idiots in Brighton who voted Labour have now got what they deserved a wrecked and ruined third world shanty town going nowhere. Happy to say i didn’t vote Labour or Green. Perhaps it will be best to call in Boris Johnson, at least he gets things done, although very difficult with all the lefties and the woke brigade hampering progress.
I knew it, i hope all the idiots who voted Labour are now ashamed of themselves. They have got what they wanted a third world shanty town going nowhere. Happy to say i didn’t vote Labour or Green, there was only one party who had the real interests of the town, [i wont call it a city] at heart and needless to say i’m not naming them for fear of repercussions. I agree that to get rid of the Greens to have Labour was sheer madness.
Calling people “idiots” because they voted differently to you makes you a bigot. Perhaps the infrastructure in the UK (includes the arches) would be in a better shape if it weren’t for almost 15 years of Tory austerity, combined with inexperienced local government of all colours it’s no wonder things don’t get fixed. In any case, the council can’t afford to invest in something which generates absolutely no income – the solution here is incorperating a commercial element to the arches but unfortunately the loud minority on here will never allow that and insist on a restoring it back to a dark and dingy walk way behind a loud of parked cars.
Not necessarily , if parking income can be gleaned from elsewhere and Madeira Drive and Terrace host more all year round events then theres a business case to continue as planned
Bearing in mind this area is frequently used and known for car rallies of all types, ie vintage to name but one, how good would it be if the entire length became some sort of enclosed car museum ? I’m sure with small adaptation this could be possible although clearly I’m no expert. Make it a must see museum and charge people and the structure could surely pay for itself over time.
Unfortunately it not possible to enclose the MT because of the protected green wall, which is in fact older than the terraces !
The comment from Robins is a prime example of local government ‘obscurantese’ – written by one of his officers.
Totally vacuous.
And then topped off by the use of the dreaded ‘going forward’.
The give-away meaningless phrase wheeled out to try to sound technical and professional.
Are they putting a lift there?! Well that’s going to be filled with used needles and graffiti the second it opens, be a home for a homeless man.
Wonder how many assaults will take place in that.
Last time something was dismantled it was the West Pier and look where that got us I helped to raise over 25k for the survey and then whole plan was scrapped and that was Grade 1
IT’S GOING TO GET DANGEROUS WHEN THESE ARCHES FALL ON PARKED CARS! i’M WITH jAX! WE KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN. I WHISH THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE WOULD COME CLEAN, AND ADMIT THEY WANT THE ARCHES SCRAPPED TO BUILD CAFES AND RESTURAUNTS ALONG THERE.