No council in history has ever done what Blair Parkin (Letters, February 6) suggests - ploughing large amounts of money into the West Pier, let alone the £25-40 million required to restore the building.

At a time when the council has a £10 million hole in its budget as it struggles to fund care for older people and children, it would be irresponsible and illegal to do so.

The pier is a private building and always has been. It is also an essential feature of our heritage, which is why the council had offered all it reasonably could to support the St Modwen restoration scheme - land and planning permission.

While it is very important to get the pier restored, it is even more important to properly fund essential council services such as social care and waste disposal.

After the Heritage Lottery Fund's withdrawal, the new proposals by English Heritage to put together a rescue package are encouraging.

The council will once again be doing all it can to help this get off the ground.

-Councillor Ken Bodfish, leader, Brighton and Hove City Council