Brighton i360: Green MP Sian Berry reacts to insolvency

The recently elected MP told The Argus she wanted to help keep the area around the attraction “as vibrant as we possibly can” after it was announced the company would be looking towards a sale and looking to appoint administrators.

The Brighton Pavilion MP said the seafront businesses faced a “worrying” winter period but that the i360 “works as an attraction” and could be saved.

Speaking to The Argus this afternoon, Ms Berry said: “It’s really, really worrying for everybody. We have to work together to work out what to do.

“I think we have to keep the area as vibrant as we possibly can. It [the i360] does work as an attraction.

“It’s probably the goal to see how much we can keep it going. It makes a big contribution to the local economy.

“There’s a risk that it will leave a big hole. We should not let the space stay empty.

“We should be able to create something. Let’s not be completely gloomy.”

Green MP Ms Berry said she had recently spoken to the i360 bosses, adding the business had suffered as a result of low visitor numbers over the summer.

Julia Barfield, chairwoman of Brighton i360 Ltd, cited the summer turnout as well as “unfavourable weather” and the cost-of-living crisis in the company’s decision.

Following criticism by Labour politicians around the Green Party’s involvement in the financing of the project, Ms Berry added that she was “surprised to see this being used as a political football again”.

Green Party councillors were instrumental in voting through the £36 million loan from the Public Works Loan Board which largely financed the i360.

The loan has now left Brighton and Hove City Council with £51 million of debt.

Council Leader Bella Sankey called the i360 a “monument to Green Party failure” and called for a public apology from the party.

Green Party group leader Cllr Steve Davis said in a statement: “This is a sad day for our city and our thoughts go out to the staff at the i360 especially, who now face uncertainty about their future.

“The i360’s history spans nearly two decades across both Green and Labour administrations.

“Alongside the i360 came a huge amount of regeneration for a long-neglected part of the city, the benefits of which are still being felt today, and there is collective responsibility for both the positives and downsides to this investment in our city.

“It’s in the interests of the council and everyone in the city that we see the best positive outcome from this, and the council should be doing whatever it can to support that.”