The proposed ice skating arena at Black Rock is another innovative and intriguing development in Brighton and Hove - and, unfortunately, will probably prove another chance for the naysayers to have an apoplectic rant about the march of progress and the terrible effects seemingly almost any development will have on the city.

A few of the phrases likely to come our way in the next few weeks are: "I'm not against progress but...", "What do we need two ice-rinks for?", "All the extra people will harm our way of life", "We already have a conference centre" and probably a plethora of others intended to put a stranglehold on the growth this city needs.

When I arrived in Sussex 20 years ago, Brighton seemed a faded, dirty and crumbling mess. Thankfully, we now have a more vibrant and modern city but there is still room for improvement.

If the naysayers have their way, we'll be left with a football team with facilities better suited to a Sunday league club, a leisure centre which will probably collapse in ten years, an eyesore Sixties slab of concrete in the heart of the city, which tries in vain to be a top conference and arts venue, and endless traffic jams in the city centre because some people don't like the idea of a car park at the edge of the city.

To those who voice an opinion on the new development, try to think further than your own back yards.

-S Snowdon, Hove