In a recent letter to The Argus (February 6), I referred to the problems involved in reintroducing trams to the streets of Brighton.

A sub-editor, presumably trying to be "politically correct", added the words "and Hove". This made a nonsense of the letter because Hove never had trams.

In fact, Hove was positively hostile both to Brighton Corporation's electric trams and to the Brighton and Shoreham Tramway which, despite its name, never reached Brighton because of the intransigent attitude of Hove Urban District as it then was.

It terminated abruptly in New Church Road at the boundary of Aldrington with Hove. When the urban district extended its territory to include the Parish of Aldrington, it found itself in unwilling possession of about a mile of tramway.

The Brighton and Shoreham Tramway was mainly horse-drawn. It could not compete with the new motor buses and closed on June 6, 1913.

However, the Aldrington section closed on October 23, 1912, presumably because of pressure from Hove council.

It is recorded that, within minutes of the last car leaving for Portslade, council workmen descended on the road to rip up the hated tramway.

Peter E H Bailey, Beaconsfield Villas, Brighton

-* Editor's comment: The letter was edited because the city is now officially called Brighton and Hove, although we understand that was not the case then.