How many times must the great, the good and the frankly desperate directors of the West Pier Trust jump into speculators' beds before they learn they will bring forth nothing?

It is obvious the returns from anything other than an unacceptably destructive development will never be sufficient to attract big business.

The trust's leaders must be feeling very frustrated. It is understandable, after all this time, that they would be tempted to seek any old solution that would enable them to walk away carrying the gongs and accolades collected for service to the community.

Of course, the engineers, planners, lawyers are doing very nicely from all this useless activity. They have no compelling need of a successful proposal.

It is asserted that the West Pier is an important monument and amenity.

What in principle is the difference between the Clock Tower and the pier?

Does the Clock Tower - or a tree in Preston Park, for that matter - have to generate revenue for its upkeep?

Meanwhile, the West Pier does indeed stand as a monument - to the fecklessness, greed and civic indifference that characterises our city.

-Jerome Abbo, Clifton Street, Brighton