We see the Dome requires some funding from Brighton and Hove City Council and we are disappointed this is not an automatic payment.

The millions of visitors to Brighton and Hove each year keep more than 20,000 of us employed.

This sort of seed money to enable our cultural offering to survive is vital for its economic consequences as well as contributing to the very qualities that give our city some value.

A city of culture is one of the essential virtues that we need to strive for in Brighton and Hove if we are to continue to be a good place to live.

There are lots of things we ask the council to do and each of us will no doubt have our own priorities.

One thing we need to share is that a better off city can spend more and if Brighton and Hove is richer culturally, it attracts the visitors and investment that bring wealth.

Our Dome is not like London's dead weight. Our Dome is an engine to pull Brighton up and enrich our lives.

Let's make sure the council finds the finance to support it.

-Roger Marlowe, chair Brighton and Hove Hotels Association