On Thursday 12th July, at its Policy & Resources Committee meeting, the Council will decide whether to loan Marks Barfield the monies necessary to close the i360 funding gap. Details of the deal are described in this Argus piece
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9804034.High_hopes_for_a_2012_start__on_Brighton_s__i360/
If the green light is given construction will begin in the autumn and a frustrating 6 year hiatus will be over. The i360 will open early in 2015 and in due course the Trust expects solid interest to come forward to build a new West Pier. The blighted West Pier site will host an exciting new attraction, worthy of Eugenius Birch’s masterpiece. Hundreds of new jobs will be created and the wider Regency area will be regenerated. The Trust has been very close to its goals before so we’re not counting chickens, but this should be a very important week in the story of the West Pier.
