The Palace Pier in Brighton has suffered its second blow in as many days after councillors turned down plans for two new money-spinning funfair rides.

After the raging fire on Tuesday evening, city planners last night unanimously rejected plans for the new rides on part of the pier head.

The Noble Organisation, which owns the structure, put in the application in December, weeks before the fire.

It was for two booster rides, each 40m high, and councillors yesterday agreed with planning officer David Vickers that they would overwhelm the pier head.

The refusal is the latest chapter in a long story of rows over rides on the Grade II-listed pier, which is more than 100 years old.

After councillors last refused permission for relocating rides, a public inquiry inspector found in favour of the company.

He gave great weight to the economic benefit of rides on the pier, not only for the local economy but for the preservation of the pier as a listed building.

Conservationist John Small, secretary of the Regency Society, told the city planning committee there were still problems with the arrangement of rides on the pier.

He said once the fire damage had been restored, the city council should take enforcement action to ensure people could walk properly around the pierhead.

Tory councillor Carol Theobald said: "There is too much clutter at the end of the pier with all these rides."

Labour councillor Les Hamilton said he had previously supported rides on the end of the pier on the grounds that was the best place for them.

But he said: "Putting up two structures which would be 130ft high is too much."

The pier already has permission to install a ride called the Megadrop 35m tall on the end and planners felt this, allied to the new rides, would be too much.

If granted, the two booster rides would have replaced rides called Ventura and Ranger on the end of the pier The pier is part of the Valley Gardens conservation area and used to have a theatre on the end until it was damaged in an accident 30 years ago.

Noble director David Biesterfield was not available for comment last night.

But he told us earlier this week he was extremely disappointed at the recommendation to refuse permission.

It is now open for Noble to consider an appeal to the planning inspectorate against the decision.