The A259 at Rottingdean is a traffic bottleneck. All bypass solutions involve an environmentally sensitive path through the South Downs.

With global warming and increased rainfall, part of the A259 coast road at Roedean may fall into the sea in the next 20 years. If it does, the only solution will be to re-route seafront traffic through Woodingdean.

Brighton and Hove is bound by downs to the north and east, urban conurbation to the west and the sea to the south. Constant erosion of the chalky cliffs by the sea is eroding the landmass.

With the success of Brighton Marina, I see no reason why this concept cannot be extended eastwards in the form of a sea defence-level bypass for Rottingdean, travelling from the Roedean pitch-and-putt course to Saltdean roundabout.

In order that Rottingdean should retain its village status, I propose the provision of a Rottingdean marina with a 100-yard A259 tunnel under the breakwater.

The entire scheme would encompass a distance of about four-and-a-half miles on shallow seabed, which should pose no problem for construction.

The capital cost would probably be in excess of £300 million but the 1,000 acres of land reclaimed could demand a price of more than £250,000 an acre.

If we include the advantages of available building land providing a rates income to the city, this project should be feasible and to the benefit of everyone.

I invite readers' comments.

-Don McBeth, Tivoli Crescent North, Brighton