The first phase of the Madeira Terrace restoration is on target to be completed early next year, residents were told last week.
But while confirming everything was currently on schedule, Mike Clegg from contractor Mackley refused to be more specific, saying that would be “the kiss of death”.
Brighton and Hove City Council appointed J T Mackley and Co to restore the first 27 arches in 2024, and work started on site in November that year.
Speaking at an update meeting at Sea Lanes, Mr Clegg said: “We haven’t finalised the date yet.
“We are just getting the last bits of cast iron tested. If a piece fails, it’s a 26-week wait to get a new piece made.
“We are quite confident that won’t be the case, but there’s still quite a few challenges.
He added: “It’s on schedule but we are reluctant to release any dates because that’s the kiss of death.”
However, council project manager Abigail Hone was happy to be a little more specific, saying: “It will be early next year.”
Of the 27 arches included in this first scheme, 15 are now up and six have had concrete poured to create the walkway, which will ultimately be surfaced with a cream coloured tarmac.
Mr Clegg said over the next three months, electric cables will be laid, and control panels installed. While most of these will be unseen, some will have to be accessible to emergency services, but will be located as sensitively as possible.
The lift carriage will be put in place, along with benches along the decks, and brickwork along the new staircases and wall planters.
Residents were told that while seafront railings in Hove are being given a new lick of paint this year, there isn’t enough money to paint the seafront furniture to the east of the pier so it looks smart in time for next year’s opening.
Meanwhile, funding for the next phase of the restoration is also proving hard to come by.
Ms Hone said her recent bid to the Heritage At Risk fund was fully dismissed, and the council’s eastern seafront project manager Ian Graham said the council was trying to get private investment.
He said: “We are meeting with developers and hoping to engage with potential investors. We are now having to test the boundaries of what’s possible.
“It’s unlikely we will be able to get the funds to do this approach across the whole terrace.
“The original set piece [from Royal Crescent to Duke’s Mound] it’s hoped will be as faithful as we have been with this first phase.
“But we are hoping for private sector development what we could do with the western phases.”
He said at the most recent meeting of the newly created seafront development board – which is not open to members of the public – the operators of Concorde 2 made a presentation of their aspirations and visions for the music venue.
Derek Wright, who runs Facebook groups for the Madeira Terrace and Kemp Town neighbourhoods, called for a £1 levy on every ticket sold to events held on Madeira Drive, such as the Brighton Marathon.
Brighton Marathon no longer use Madeira Drive. Their event finishes on Hove Lawns.
Madeira Terrace restoration on track to complete ‘early next year? You mean that pathetic little section…..and then what? What about the other 123 arches, what’s going to happen to them?, only 28 have been restored so hardly ‘on track’. This council is pathetic, they seem to be able to find the money for unnecessary projects. They also seem to forget that they only ended up in the state that they did because all councils did not maintain them in the first place despite collecting council tax!
136 years of history, destroyed by BHCC
It only took seven years to build them all 1890 – 1897 at the rate they are being rebuilt due to the councils neglect of listed structures i think it will take the next 100 years to rebuild.
Its a bit like the sandblasting on Hove seafront with the railings. Loads of people working on the small area being done, to do the whole of the seafront will take the next 200 years. I bet in the long run it would be cheaper just to replace section at a time.