In answer to your report Polio Home To Close (The Argus, April 14), there are, of course, two very different sides to every story.

You published some very bland statements by Mr Kemp, Chief Executive of The British Polio Fellowship, pointing out there are no new potential clients and that the fellowship had subsidised the Lantern Hotel to the tune of £400,000 in the past three years.

But he seems to have forgotten to mention that income from holiday guests rose last year by 23 per cent and we recently had six Polio-disabled members waiting to move into our residential accommodation, although we have kept five rooms vacant now for many months.

For some reason, we have kept the price of residents' accommodation, which I suggest is the largest and best in Sussex, artificially low at £317 per week, which includes full care facilities.

Not only are the prices charged at less than half the local "market price" but also we have no evidence that serious investigations regarding the losses at the Lantern Hotel have been fully researched.

I'm not aware Mr Kemp has, as yet, had any discussions with our local authority or social services in how to deal with our problems.

His first meeting with social services is not until April 24, a month after the decision was made.

From my own meetings, I know the local authority is seriously concerned as it already has a long waiting list and to find suitable accommodation for our 12 remaining residents will be a major problem.

The possibility of losing a first-class facility designed specifically for wheelchair users would be an unacceptable loss to the local community.

As I said, there are two sides to every story. The Lantern has been established for 53 years and the row about its end is just beginning.

-Bob Stephens, Chairman Worthing and Sussex Branch The British Polio Fellowship, Worthing