After reading so many comments on the proposed King Alfred development, I feel we need reminding of the state of our only other major waterbased leisure centre - the Prince Regent complex.

Over the past few years it has become surrounded by building sites, new developments, old/empty buildings held up by scaffolding, skips full of rubbish, large areas boarded up from public access and covered in graffiti, numerous empty shop outlets (the largest of which now sits right in front of the main entrance) and a large derelict piece of land that used to provide some relief to the totally inadequate and poorly-planned car park.

Take a walk around this centre during a busy period and tell me how a family bringing their child to this area could find it a totally enjoyable experience.

There are many far better examples in Crawley, Guildford, Basingstoke, Horsham and Burgess Hill which can accommodate large numbers of swimmers in a pleasant environment.

This pool may soon be expected to accommodate an influx of swimmers from the closure of the King Alfred.

When will Brighton and Hove City Council provide its residents with an easily accessed and pleasant swimming facility which is not surrounded by or dependent on residential or commercial outlets?

We need a quality swimming facility to encourage children to participate in the sport and for adults to continue with it. And we need it now.

-Nigel Carrucan, Shoreham