Their application to the High Court for a judicial review was also thrown out but they have now renewed it for a second time and, if successful, there will have to be a full hearing which will further delay restoration plans.

The Noble family are concerned that a restored pier will be competition for the Brighton Pier but since competition is not an admissible objection on planning grounds they are trawling other options in the hope of hitting on one that will hit the right note.

They are also encouraging English Heritage to review its financial contribution to the project because so much of the original pier has now been lost in the two fires of the last few months which are now widely believed (without any concrete evidence) to be deliberate arson attacks rather than just accidents or the work of pranksters.