You would think a £2 million grant would be good news but at a public consultation at Larchwood Resource Centre in Waldron Avenue, Coldean, Brighton, residents and staff were clearly far from happy.

The proposed scheme will provide 30 self-contained one-bed flats and seven two-bedroom flats mainly for people who can no longer live independently. But where will the five current long-stay residents go?

Also, what about the eight people who currently access respite care? Will this vital service remain? Will there be special disabled parking and ambulance provision and has this been taken into consideration for local residents parking? And what level of staff will there be if the proposals go ahead?

I understand a mixed development where an enhanced ground floor kept its current usage and the first floor had the new units has not been considered since the funding rules do not allow the combination.

Clearly there is still a lot of work to do on this and a lot more information needs to be made available. I just hope the council are compassionate and sympathetic in their approach.

-Mike Weatherley, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Pavilion, St Margarets Place, Brighton