It was with some concern that I read, in Jo Brooks' column that the old music library (previously British Gas) building in Church Street, Brighton, is to be turned into "one of the South's most exclusive and creative private members' clubs" (The Argus, July 28).

On logging on to the organisation's web site, I was amazed that there was no mention that (to the best of my knowledge as a local for nearly three quarters of a century) this is, or at least was, a public building.

Is this therefore yet another move by Brighton and Hove City Council to hive off bits of "our" real estate in order to attract yet more "media people" to the town and, by so doing, further erode the ability of the young and essential workers such as teachers and nurses to gain a foothold in the housing market as these newcomers flash their cash?

With the Dome and Corn Exchange management apparently turning their noses up at popular entertainment, the new owners of the Theatre Royal must be laughing all the way to the bank as they cater for us apparently unartistic locals, who, after all, are only here to pay for it all from their council tax.

So beware of more so-called private investment, for while we will have to pay through the nose for membership (if we want to join), you may be assured that our worthy councillors and their equally lascivious officials will already have made sure of their own privileged access to this latest example of the Gravy Train.

On a separate note, I was interested to note that of all the potential sites for the new stadium, all except Falmer were listed as either already being developed or too expensive. Could this be perhaps because the council is providing the land either free or at a peppercorn rent? If so, on whose authority?

As a final point, and as someone who trudged the streets on behalf of Henry Cohen's Brighton Marina town poll, I remember clearly that the whole concept was permitted on the strict understanding that all and any development must be below the cliff top. So why do we have the prospect of a 40-storey tower?

-Chris English, Ovingdean