Eye plans focus on traffic and falcons

The Argus Wednesday, 20 September, 2006

UPDATED plans for the 600ft seafront Brighton Eye address issues about traffic along the seafront and the ecological effects on peregrine falcons.

New proposals from London Eye designers Marks Barfield have been submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council, which is due to make a final decision on the development in October.

The designers have been working on the project to resurrect the West Pier for a year and a half which involves removing the wreckage and replacing it with a 600ft viewing tower, shop and heritage centre.

The tower would carry up to 100 visitors at one time in a pod to 500ft above sea level, giving views of 25 miles on a clear day. The privately-funded attraction would cost between £15 million and £20 million and be expected to attract 550,000 people a year.

Following an initial application in May, a second, more detailed, application was submitted last week incorporating issues raised in surveys.

The update includes plans to put in cycle racks and paths, car parks and improved footpaths, and a look into the ecological effects of clearing the wreckage, including whether it could harm the habits of peregrine falcons which nest on Sussex Heights and hunt the starlings above the pier.

David Marks of the designers said: "It is just a matter of fine tuning.

"We are providing more detail and information for the council, looking into matters raised in consultations and surveys since the application first went in."