May we have some second thoughts on Medina House (Letters, December 5)?

Why did the planners of Brighton and Hove City Council even entertain this full planning application?

Surely there was some contact between the architects for this scheme and the planning department prior to the consultants' report being commissioned?

This would assure that the application, plans, brochure and reports were all submitted on an understanding between developers and planners.

Perhaps that understanding was that 18 storeys just would not be acceptable but, out of sheer relief, the public would put up with, say, ten storeys, an alternative waiting in the wings.

So, a diversionary tactic.

That could be useful in another context - and near at hand, too.

As a diversionary tactic, it could be useful in dealing with the height of blocks of flats proposed for the King Alfred site. Splendid. Local residents will be so happy to accept something more modern - eight storeys, ten storeys, perhaps?

Our planners know all about diversionary tactics.

-Jerry Laurie, King's Esplanade, Hove