A poll conducted by The Argus has revealed that 45 percent of Brighton residents want the i360 demolished, after it was announced that the operator of the controversial attraction had filed for insolvency.

Brighton i360 Ltd appointed administrators last month having racked up debts of £51m, with those living in the ride’s shadow now calling for it to be taken down or replaced with the Brighton Wheel.

“The Argus polled readers last week after the news that Brighton i360 Ltd was headed for insolvency, leaving Brighton and Hove City Council with a £30m financial black hole,” reported the paper.

“Now, we can reveal that while a quarter of those surveyed want to keep the i360 running, nearly double that number want to see the seafront attraction dismantled and replaced.”

According to the survey, just three percent of people wanted to see the i360 left standing, but “not run as an attraction.”

Brighton and Hove City Council invested in the ride in 2014 through the Public Works Loan Board, and though councillors agreed “bad debt” provisions for £18.9m, a further £32.14m remains outstanding.

“The council will now need to repay £2.2m a year every year until the 2040/41 financial year. The figure is £1m a year more than they had previously been paying back.”