Enabled how?

The Argus - Letters Monday, 3 June, 2002

WE note Dr Geoff Lockwood's claims (The Argus, May 25) that the West Pier enabling development is highly popular in Brighton and Hove based on the returns of about one per cent from a completely inadequate survey carried out by the West Pier Trust.

The Trust's leaflet provided little or no information about the development and took every precaution to disguise its effect on the seafront. The main picture was a bird's-eye view from the top of the Brighton Centre. No visuals were included from human-eye view on the Kings Road promenade. No figures of the development's size, equivalent to Hanningtons in floor area - total length more than 500ft, height 20ft above the Kings Road promenade - were stated in the pamphlet, which is an exercise in misinformation.

This is not a document on which one could make an informed opinion because there is so little factual information provided. In fact, the suggestion was given that the development would have no more effect on the seafront than the Rock Shop or Alfresco, despite the fact it will be some 20 times larger in volume above the Kings Road. This is patently dishonest.

It is interesting to note that when we inspected the files of comment letters at the planning office two weeks ago, there were 120 letters objecting to the application and just three letters agreeing with it.

During the two weeks since, we have delivered 2,724 individual objection letters and, with others we know have been sent directly, the total number of letters objecting to the application exceeds 2,844. They are still coming in. So we find it puzzling on what basis Dr Lockwood can claim he is promoting a popular development.

Clive Buxton
Secretary, Save Our Seafront