£20m Eye-ful on the seafront

Adam Trimingham - The Argus Friday, 31 March, 2006

IF THE scheme for the West Pier site goes ahead, the Brighton Eye will be the tallest observation tower in the British Isles.

Its viewing pod would rise to 500ft, which makes it higher than both Blackpool Tower and the troubled Spinnaker 50 miles along the coast at Portsmouth.

It would be taller than the London Eye but not as high as the Post Office Tower in London - though that is not open to the public.

Its slim tower would be designed so that it does not sway in the wind and is able to withstand the greatest storms.

The tower would be coated in striking stainless steel and
designed to last at least 100 years.

People would board from the deck of the West Pier at the King's Road level.

Each journey to the top and back would take between 20 and 25 minutes and visitors would be accompanied by a host.

When the pod descends, it would go to Lower Promenade level to discharge visitors into the new West Pier Heritage Centre.

Most visitors would spend about an hour at the attraction, giving them plenty of time to see other parts of the city.

The London Eye receives 3.5 million visitors a year and it is forecast the Brighton Eye would attract 550,000, a fifth of them first-time visitors to the city and most expected to use public transport to reach the seafront tower.

Its top part would be illuminated, with the prospect of spectacular light displays and the structure - designed without ledges to discourage birds roosting - would be topped by a red aircraft warning light and two wind turbines which would provide about a fifth of the tower's energy requirements.

Opening hours would vary with the season but would mostly be from 10am to between 6pm and 10pm. Queuing areas are planned for the pier deck.

Architect David Marks said: "We aim to give people a fantastic experience in complete comfort and safety."

Visitors would be able to enjoy a view stretching over most of Sussex and beyond and admire the changing of the seasons, the weather and the many moods of the sea.

Extensive consultations will be held in Brighton and Hove before a planning application is submitted to the city council.

Although some opposition is expected, the West Pier Trust and Marks Barfield architects believe most people will see the venture as an exciting addition to Brighton's seafront.

Mr Marks said if the tower repeated the success of the London Eye, it would be a considerable boost for the area.

Marks Barfield has extensive experience of operating the London
Eye, one of the capital's biggest tourist attractions. Julia Barfield said: "We intend to make it as beautiful as possible so that it will soar into the air."

West Pier Trust chairman Glynn Jones said the new venture and the restored pier would complete the council's long-standing seafront restoration.

Trust chief executive Dr Geoff Lockwood said the plans did not include a bulky building like the earlier St Modwen proposal for the West Pier area and the tower would enhance the seafront.

He added: "It will provide a 21st Century civic symbol for a resurgent city.

"There are people who will object to anything new on the seafront but this stylish new feature has minimum negative impact and massive positive gain.

"The key West Pier site, which for 30 years has been a blot on civic pride, will once again become an icon of international renown.

"It will be a major stepping stone in the westwards regeneration of the seafront."

The venture will have to be approved by city planners but Dr Lockwood was confident there was no need for the scheme to be called in for a public inquiry.

There are plans to reconstruct the pier's eastern toll house and to rebuild the western one.

Original railings, seating and lamps will be restored for use at the landward end.

Below the deck, exhibition space will display the eventful history of the pier in a glass fronted building housing the West Pier Heritage Centre.

The trust is asking the council to use land on either side of the pier to display original artefacts from the pier.

Plans for the rest of the pier include rebuilding the concert hall which fell into the sea.

The trust will apply for permission to remove its twisted remains from the seabed.

It intends,to save much of the original pier head structure for a new building in sympathy with the original design of the pier.

Main development would be at landing stage level and the pier could be used once again by pleasure boats.

Preliminary talks have been held with the city council and English Heritage to see whether the scheme has their support.

Built between 1866 and 1916, the West Pier closed in 1975 and successive schemes to restore it have failed.