A MAJOR seaside tourist attraction could be “transformed into the UK’s highest Wetherspoons” – after it closed down for good.
A campaign for the pub giant to acquire the Brighton i360 has been launched following the landmark’s closure last week.
The owners of the 531ft-tall observation tower, Brighton i360 Limited, went into administration – leaving the landmark empty until new buyers are found.
The petition was posted on change.org on Saturday, with the title: “Turn the i360 into a spoons”.
The poster wrote: “We can all agree that the i360 was a bit ****. Cheap pints are not.
“So what I propose is that council pull their finger out and turn it into a spoons. Give the people what they want.”
Wetherspoons told The Sun they did not have any concrete plans to turn the tower into a pub – but locals remain optimistic.
The petition has so far received 70 signatures, with 55 people signing the document just today.
The Brighton beach attraction, dubbed “i-sore” by locals, has had a chequered financial past, with £51 million currently owed by its owners to Brighton and Hove City Council.
It first opened in August 2016, with the help of £30 million’s worth of funding from the council.
City bosses claimed it would become an iconic global landmark attracting millions of tourists to the resort.
But its first 12 months were plagued by mechanical and technical faults which caused the viewing pod to become stuck leaving visitors stranded high in the air.
Falling visitor numbers, bad weather and up to £20 ticket prices left the attraction struggling to pay its debt and then the Covid pandemic struck.
Operators had promised to pay back the loan and pledged the attraction would bring “millions” of tourists into the city.
But last month’s closure has led to a black hole in the council’s finances – as well as over 100 job losses.
The council has now been now forced to consult residents on where to make the necessary cuts – which could affect adult social care, children’s services, housing, leisure and culture, or community services.
Deputy leader Jacob Taylor said: “The new government has provided a significant uplift in local government funding, but the cumulative underfunding of local government over the past 10 years is taking its toll.
“As a council that listens to its residents, we would like as many people as possible, from as many communities as possible, to take part in this budget exercise and share their views.”
The plea was met with outrage online, with one user saying: “I am absolutely stunned.
“I remember thousands of people objecting to the i360 when plans were first unveiled, especially the cost of it.
“When I heard the councillor asking for ideas to save £30million it was like being hit in the face with a wet fish.
“So in answer to the request for ideas I would say: ‘Listen to your taxpayers, councillor.'”
