From the moment we bought our new home near the empty Alliance and Leicester site in Orchard Road, Hove, in September 1997, we have had to put up with many things.

My wife and I did not mind the skateboarders and roller skaters who were simply enjoying their activities in its grounds.

However, we also put up with mindless vandals regularly smashing its huge windows, graffiti taggers spraying their solvent-based ego trips on its walls and, last month, the joys of an illegal rave taking place.

You would imagine my relief when the new owner, the Cuckfield Group, erected wire fencing around the site, brought in 24-hour security guards and announced its impending demolition.

However, my relief was short lived when I saw the plans for the new City Park the Cuckfield Group intends to build on the site (Argus, May 2)

It is as if the Cuckfield Group has entered a competition entitled "How many offices can you cram into the smallest possible space?" or "Design something completely out of keeping with the local area". It would have won both.

If completed, this City Park is likely to create up to 2,000 jobs with parking for up to 640 cars.

With very little unemployment in this area, most of these employees will come from outside and will saturate the area with more vehicular traffic and, with only 640 parking spaces, take up parking spaces currently enjoyed by local residents and users of Hove Park.

Has nothing been learnt by the lessons of what happened when the Legal and General opened its office block in Montefiore Road?

I would prefer to continue to live with the current eyesore than be lumbered with another one with the extra problems it would cause. Of course, I can only speak for myself, which was more than Hove MP Ivor Caplin has done when he said: "The building is in keeping with the area and will be welcomed by residents and park users."

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