The Brighton Tourism Alliance has come out fighting for the i360 in its battle with the Brighton Wheel.
The Brighton Wheel has applied for permission to open for another five years, well after the Brighton i360 is built.
The i360 says this would siphon off about a quarter of its visitors, and has called on the Wheel to honour its lease which it says states it should cease operation before the viewing tower opens.
And at a meeting last night, the Brighton Tourism Alliance resolved to back the i360 and urge the council not to allow the Wheel to extend its stay.
Chair Soozie Campbell said: “The i360 has been engaging with other businesses and partnbers in the city from the outset.
“We have had no engagement whatsoever from the Wheel.
“The i360 is a member of the alliance and supports all the causes we fight for, which make the public realm better for visitors.
“The Wheel is breaking an agreement. A deal is a deal and they’re trying to change the groundrules. It seems to me that they’re trying to ride on the coattails of the i360. It doesn’t seem fair.
“The i360 have invested a lot of time and money in promoting Brighton to the wider world – they’re out there drawing people in and all other tourism businesses in the city will benefit.
“In contrast, the Wheel has taken an outsider stance – just parked itself there.”
The Wheel had not responded to requests for a comment at the time of publication.
A Tourism cartel…no one likes bullies, yes I be the i360 likes spending money that in theory is not theres!