Dr Anthony Seldon writes eloquently in The Argus (November 13) in favour of a massive expansion in high-rise and ultra-modern landmark architecture all over Brighton and Hove.
On October 31, I attended the public meeting about the Endeavour Motors site, organised by Karis Developments, and read out a statement on behalf of a dozen residents of Argyle Road. Here is an extract:
"Mr Arghiros said in The Argus this week he'd like the chance to explain the emotive effect of the design. Having seen the scheme, here is our emotional response:
"The first feeling we get is the same as when looking back at Brighton and Hove from the end of the pier - anger. How did all those ugly tower blocks which spoil the beautiful horizontal sweep of the coast ever get built?
"Secondly, we feel insulted the developers have paid so little regard to the hundreds of us who have already registered our dismay at the idea of a 16-storey building on this site and have simply reapplied, offering financial inducements as a sop.
"The third emotion we feel is despair at the way some architects see development only as a means of expressing their individual talent instead of working within the existing context of an area, driven by a commercial imperative which has nothing to do with our neighbourhood.
"This tower will overshadow and dominate a beautiful Victorian viaduct and Preston Park, to say nothing of the residential buildings around it. Such high-density developments can only make parking and congestion problems here much, much worse.
"Finally, we are irritated to be spending a Friday evening at yet another public meeting to register our protest.
"We have made our views very plain to the council and do not understand why we seem to be back where we started."
The speech drew loud cheers and warm applause, perhaps because, although we are told by architects and developers alike that we should be inspired and uplifted by their efforts, the reality is very different.
-Simon Heath, Brighton
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