THERE has been a renewed call to convert the i360 into the world’s largest sundial.

John Kapp is once again asking for the attraction to be converted into a giant solar marker.

The Hove resident thinks the timing is now right for his idea, following the loss of British Airways sponsorship on Friday.

He wrote to the i360 officials on Sunday urging them to reconsider his proposal.

The 86-year-old said the project would cost about £300,000 but would boost tourism in the city.

He said: “Every day the shadow of the i360 moves across Brighton and Hove like a windscreen wiper.

“At the summer solstice the shadow reaches Regency Square, but in winter it goes up to the Hove Waitrose car park.

“My idea would be to put bricks across the city showing the date and time as the i360’s shadow moves across it.

“The project is a no brainer whichever way anybody looks at it.”

John first proposed the idea in 2016, saying it could bring a million extra tourists to Brighton each year, with many buying tickets for a ride.

He estimates more than 15,000 bricks would be needed to convert the area around the i360 into a sundial chart visible from the top of the ride.

If completed the i360 would be one of the tallest sundials in history, five times higher than the Roman Solarium Augusti built by Emperor Augustus in 10 BC.

The former councillor also called for a sundial plate to be built around the i360 so those waiting for the ride could tell the time by the sun.

In 2020, the i360 admitted that it was an interesting idea but said funds could not be spared

While Brighton and Hove City Council said it was "unlikely we’d be able to help with funding this project”.

John is hoping the situation may now have changed after British Airways announced on Friday that it would not be renewing its sponsorship with the visitors attraction.

Announcing the split, Ian Hart, chief operating officer of Brighton i360, said: “We have enjoyed a really successful partnership with British Airways since Brighton i360 opened in August 2016.

"The globally recognised BA brand helped to catapult Brighton i360 on to the international stage from the very beginning.

"Due to this positive relationship, British Airways extended the original sponsorship term of five years back in August 2021 for a further 15 months.

"We have now agreed a completion date of November 3 2022.

"We are excited about the next chapter for Brighton i360 and what a new sponsor might hold in store for us as one of Brighton’s major tourist attractions.”

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