The decline of the Brighton Centre and the ten-year delay in bringing forward new proposals is a disgrace (The Argus, February 1).

But then in this city any planning brief takes anything between ten and 30 years to be brought into construction.

If the King Alfred scheme gets shunted into a siding, as promised by some of our Conservative councillors, then forget this city as a leading player because all the investment in this country is going to those town and cities successful in the casino bids.

The trouble with the casino bids is they are a double-edged sword.

On one side are the social ills associated with gambling but on the other the potential profits mean the investment provided will be immense.

Add to all this the massive investment in London for the 2012 Olympics and you have to ask whether there will be any development money left?

I have a sneaking feeling our city's unsuccessful casino bid may have been influenced by all these planning and construction delays, be it Black Rock, the King Alfred or the Falmer Stadium.

James Greed, Wheatfield Way, Moulsecoomb