A HISTORIC fountain which is just metres from a huge sinkhole has been turned off for "safety reasons" after it was discovered to be listing.

The Victoria Fountain in Old Steine Gardens, Brighton, has "significant and complex structural problems" which a councillor says could pose a danger to residents.

The structure began listing two years ago and needs expensive structural works to be fixed.

Temporary work to the 176-year-old fountain has been carried out to make it safe but specialist work to straighten it will not be completed until the end of 2023.

The Argus: Rottingdean Coastal councillor Mary Mears said people need to "be aware" of the structure's movement. Rottingdean Coastal councillor Mary Mears said people need to "be aware" of the structure's movement.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council told The Argus: "The Victoria Fountain has significant and complex structural problems and has been switched off for safety reasons.

“We’re aware that the fountain is listing and has been for the past two years. Temporary works have been carried out to make it safe.

“Following a due diligence exercise we can confirm that the listing isn’t because of the recent Christmas Festival.

“Sadly, there is no quick or easy way to fix the fountain. Structural specialists have provided an engineering repair solution whereby the structure needs to be dismantled, repaired to include electrical and water feed repairs, refurbished and reassembled.

“There are significant costs involved and once funding is identified we intend to procure the works with a view to starting on site in summer 2023 and completing the specialist works by the end of the year.”

It comes after furious residents living in the area complained that Brighton Christmas Festival turned the gardens into a "muddy quagmire".

The Argus: The victorian fountain has been listing for two yearsThe victorian fountain has been listing for two years

More than 131,000 people visited the festival's Christmas market alone and it was named one of the best in the UK.

It is set to return for the next two years but councillors have suggested it be moved to Madeira Drive.

Rottingdean Coastal councillor Mary Mears said the fountain's movement "could put people in danger".

She said: "This is a historic fountain in a historic garden and it is up to the council to look after it and maintain it - clearly it hasn't had the maintenance or care.

"It is iconic in the city, it is part of the city centre, along with the gardens that have been totally ruined, now there are real concerns around the fountain.

"There must be a report somewhere showing the level of movement in that fountain and people need to be aware of it.

"We have already seen a great big hole appearing in the garden, heaven forbid if anything happened to that fountain and it moved, it could put people in danger."