Brighton comedian: “Turn i360 site into Nasa launch pad”

A Brighton-based comedian has launched a campaign to turn the planned i360 site into a Nasa launch pad.

Phil Lucas claims the plan for the plot near the West Pier “marks the culmination of over five years of work” including consultation with the local community, local authorities, ITV Daybreak and NASA.

It comes just weeks after Brighton and Hove City Council signed off a funding deal for the £46 million attraction.

In the covering letter to his alternative, Mr Lucas said: “I am pleased to introduce this plan covering our proposals for the development of the West Pier area of brighton.

“Although I am a firm believer that the proposed i360 observation tower would bring tangible economic benefits to the local area, I remain fully convinced that the construction and operation of a Nasa launch pad next to the beach is the only long-term regeneration solution for this neglected part of Brighton.”

He finishes: “These are exciting times for Brighton and I hope you share my enthusiasm for this bold and innovative project.”

It comes as a petition to stop the council from drawing down a £36 million loan from the government’s Public Loans Works Board gathers momentum.

Local campaigners, led by Valerie Paynter, of Save Hove, believe that no public money should be used in the scheme.

So far it has nearly 750 signatures.

For more details, visit www.change.org/en-GB/petitions.