i360 is just pie in the sky...

Mr Marks says that people were saying the same about the London Eye not getting off the ground, but that’s not really the same thing.

With London you have a 360-degree panoramic view to look at. But in Brighton, 50% of the view is of the sea. Who wants to look at the sea from the sky?

Let’s face it, there haven’t been vast crowds queueing for the Big Wheel by the Palace Pier, so I would not want to put my money into it.

I think it’s disgusting that Brighton and Hove City Council can find millions as a loan for this and yet previous councils let the West Pier rot.

And don’t tell me that’s going to be restored. Oh, that’s another pie I’ve just seen fly over the moon.

Mr A Gumbrill, Chapel Mews, Hove

Given the state of the i360’s finances, we should not be free and easy lending money to such a scheme.

How much is it really needed or wanted by the residents of Brighton and Hove? And how much of a draw would it be to tourists once the initial novelty has worn off?

Councillor Jason Kitcat says the loan will come from the Government but a pound is a pound and, as such, must be spent wisely in times of austerity.

Brighton and Hove has been devoid of an ice rink for years but there is a proven demand: just look at the success of temporary rinks such as at the Royal Pavilion each winter. A classy city-centre ice rink would be a great family attraction and an excellent venue for corporate hospitality and private hire.

So, where would it go? Plans have been suggested in the past, without success. Yet The Hippodrome – a purpose-built ice rink – stands idle. A visionary approach would be to divert this money from the Government to the restoration of the Hippodrome as a high-class skating facility. Memorabilia of The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Laurel and Hardy (to name just a few icons to have performed there) could feature in a cafe/bar area, becoming another great place to visit and hang out.

If the i360 is ever built, what will its customers gaze down upon? A neglected seafront and ruins such as The Hippodrome, supposedly integral parts of Brighton’s heritage and tourism “offering” but allowed to deteriorate in favour of lazy decadence.

Peter Poole, Eastern Road, Brighton