THERE is no end in sight to the city’s seafront road misery as closures look set to drag on into the summer.

Council chiefs have admitted there is still no completion date for repairs to the arches beneath Kings Road following the road collapse above The Fortune of War pub in Brighton.

The revelation comes as workmen from Southern Water moved into Black Lion Street yesterday for “emergency” and “unavoidable” repair work after a sewer collapsed.

A spokeswoman for Southern Water said: “We know roadworks in this part of Brighton are never welcome and we’ll be working as fast as we can to repair the sewer.”

The southbound lane is closed. 

Brighton and Hove City Council originally gave an estimate of eight weeks for the Kings Road subsidence to be repaired after a hole appeared at the back of The Fortune of War on April 25.

Geoff Raw, executive director environment, development and housing, said: “We are working as swiftly as we can and investigations are still ongoing because the arches are part of a much bigger structure.

“It is likely we will need to review the estimate of completion and we’re working with the owners of the main property in this area.”

He added: “We have removed a section of central reservation to improve access into the old town area via Middle Street and amending traffic signal timings so these measures will improve traffic flows.”

The costs of repairs are also unclear and Mr Raw said “it is not possible to estimate this until the more detailed analysis has been completed”.

Warren Morgan, Labour group leader, said: “This latest delay underlines the need for the Green administration to redirect transport funding towards the crucial task of repairing our crumbling seafront infrastructure. “The Greens need to get a grip on this situation and fast.

“If this drags on into the height of the summer season it could severely impact local businesses and traders.”

Geoffrey Theobald, Conservative group leader, said: “I was quite surprised it has got to this situation – we are coming into the summer season and we need answers.”

He added the closure may have an effect on the tourism trade and saidL “We need to just get on with it as soon as we can.”