Brighton council accused of 'wiping away history' after scrapping seafront blue paint used on railings and lampposts after more than 100 years - because it costs too much

Published: 07:34 EDT, 28 October 2026 | Updated: 07:36 EDT, 28 October 2026 Brighton council has been accused of 'wiping away' history after scrapping an iconic paint colour – because it is too expensive.'Brighton Blue', a shade of aqua, has adorned the seafront railings and lampposts for over a century.It is a custom-made colour, making it more expensive, so Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) has selected a cheaper alternative from the standard range.But locals have criticised the plan to paint the metalwork RAL light green, which was deemed the closest match, insisting it simply does not look right for the city.One commented on Facebook: 'More of Brighton and Hove's heritage being sacrificed by this council.'Another added: 'The colour is too modern for Victorian railing and lampposts. Typical Brighton Council.'But others have backed the council, if it means the chipped and rusting paint can be refreshed more frequently. One local wrote: 'It'll look a damn site better than the flaky railings and posts now.' 'Brighton Blue' paint that has coated railings and bollards on Brighton's seafront for over a century is set to be replaced The colour is made specially for the council, so it has been deemed too expensive and replaced with a cheaper alternative Locals have accused the council of 'wiping out' the city's history by ditching the iconic shadeBHCC say the new colour provides a long-lasting coat that will help preserve the structures in the long term.Councillor Jacob Allen, cabinet member for public realm, said: 'As we continue to restore our historic lamp columns, bollards, railings and, of course, the Madeira Terrace arches, serious care and attention is given to the heritage.'Our approach balances preserving these iconic cast iron structures with taking advantage of modern preparation methods and advanced protective coating systems to ensure they can be maintained in the future.'We're protecting the cast ironwork using a specialist, cost effective and long-lasting coating system, rather than standard paint, and the closest available match to the turquoise paint used on the terrace since the 1920s, determined by microscopic paint analysis.'BHCC forecasts an overspend risk of almost £20million in 2026-27, driven largely by a spiralling social care bill, according to a report published in July.Councillor Jacob Allen added: 'While we welcome the savings this new technique will bring, our primary aim is not short-term cost reduction but the application of restoration techniques that better preserve and protect our historic infrastructure.'The coatings will keep the cast iron in good condition for longer, extend maintenance cycles and reduce the frequency of future interventions. This is a more sustainable approach to maintenance and may generate savings over the longer term.'The use of the matched colour is specific to restoration projects, such as Madeira Terrace and the city's seafront lamp columns, where durability and long-term maintenance are important considerations.'In daylight, it will very closely match the turquoise used on the terrace for the past 100 years, while the terrace's new lighting scheme will create different visual effects after dark.'Over time the appearance of the colours will become more muted, but we are confident this is as good a match as possible.'