With global warnings ringing in our ears, it seems, as each summer approaches, we are told of the likelihood of water rationing, with hosepipes banned during the warmer months.

The latest proposals (The Argus, May 21) to cram 700 dwellings and a new sports complex, all demanding additional clean water, on the four-acre King Alfred site, will be met with increasing hostility and furious objections from the people of our city.

How the architect, Frank Gehry, can describe this as a scaled-down version of his earlier proposals for 40 dwellings, I don't know.

Would it not be more sensible for the public good to have a sports complex and build a desalination plant, producing fresh water from the seawater which is so close to this seafront site?

There is limitless raw material available to produce drinking water to service a very large area.

This would not detract from the character and appearance of our historic seafront environment.

No doubt the European Community would provide financial help for so worthy a purpose - as it has for many of our continental neighbours.

-Peter Savage, Hove