Save Our Seafront and Selma Montford seem to be claiming the West Pier Trust-St Modwen plans are for a "rebuild" rather than "restoration" of the West Pier (The Argus, February 4).

I am never sure about such terminology but I recollect when Uppark House burned to the ground and parts of Windsor Castle were gutted by fire, they were "restored", not "rebuilt".

Leaving aside the clear intent of the trust - and Brighton and Hove City Council - to to achieve the "restoration" of the West Pier, we are obliged to do so by the national heritage authorities through their funding, consents and processes.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) will be devoting £15 million to the restoration of the West Pier and will closely monitor the plans and their implementation on a monthly basis to ensure the aim of restoring the pier authentically to its Twenties' external appearance - with as much usage of original parts, materials and artefacts as possible - is properly fulfilled.

The statutory authority for heritage assessment is English Heritage, which has been intimately involved in the development of the plans for the restoration over the past seven years.

It is not in the business of giving a "once and for all" consent. It will assist and monitor our plans, and their implementation, as an ongoing process to ensure the same aim as the HLF.

The continuing involvement and scrutiny of those two heritage authorities rules out any possibility of the West Pier Trust-St Modwen being given grants and permissions and then proceeding with works that will not provide the authentic restoration.

-Geoff Lockwood, Chairman, West Pier Trust, Brighton