Madeira Terraces: Arts quarter is under threat

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Brighton and Hove City Council has said it will take action to prevent sections of Madeira Terraces from collapse, after a survey revealed ''major structural defects'', but businesses at the site are devastated.

Artist Julieanne Gilburt runs the JAG Gallery, and was told last week that the gallery would have to move out of The Terraces for good.

Ms Gilburt said the gallery and artistic space was set up around 12 years ago, but had to move out into a portacabin in May, after the council said The Terraces were not safe, and work needed to be done to repair a part of the terrace.

Now the council has said the deterioration has gone too far.

She said: ''We are completely devastated that we've built up the JAG name and we are still in shock over the news, but hopefully with the council's help we will manage to either stay in the portacabins to keep the artistsí quarter open, or relocate somewhere else.''

Neil Sykes, who runs Modern World Gallery, next door to JAG, will remain open, but said his footfall is down 80% on last year, since part of The Terraces were blocked off.

He said: ''This is the end. It is clear these works have to go ahead. It is too far gone - but why is it so far gone?''

He suggested the Brighton arts community and residents should come together to think up ways of revitalising the area - such as allowing graffiti artists to paint under the arches, in order to make it a tourist attraction.

Parts of The Terraces were fenced off earlier this summer, but the situation has become much more serious as elements within bays one to five of the terraces are now severely corroded leaving them beyond repair and in danger of collapse.

Not only will the JAG Gallery have to close, but other tenants in The Terraces, including Studio 284 and Concorde 2 could be affected. 

Studio 284 is located within the retaining wall which is not at risk of collapse, but it is accessed by a staircase which is reached underneath the terraces, so this tenant has been asked to vacate.

Over the coming weeks, work will be carried out to stabilise the arches either side of Concorde 2, which will remain open.