Conservative Eastbourne Borough Council representative David Small said there was “cross-party support” for keeping these lights.
“It feels incredibly wasteful to throw away well-made ironwork for generic replacements that, frankly, are unlikely to last as well,” he said.
“At the very least, proper alternatives should be costed before these lights are lost.”
Bob Cookson, a retired electrical engineer and adviser to Eastbourne Society, said there was “no technical reason” why the columns could not be fitted with modern fittings that met current standards.
“Iron of this quality lasts for centuries,” he added.
An East Sussex County Council spokesperson said the lights were scheduled to be replaced with new street lights.