The Brighton Society is relieved to learn that City College does not plan to sell the Connaught Centre to Tesco (The Argus, May 2). However, the society would like to question the assertion by Phil Frier, principal of City College, that the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) will not provide funding to refurbish this beautiful building.
The LSC has told the society that it does, in fact, pay for the refurbishment of existing buildings. The robust scheme to integrate the old with the new on the BHASVIC campus is proof that this is so.
It might be argued that City College has a vested interest in an entirely new educational centre in Hove. The college is also under pressure to finalise its redevelopment plans promptly to secure funding.
This situation is concerning.
The "angry response" to threats to its existence shows that the Connaught Centre is too important architecturally and to the community to be demolished. The Brighton Society would therefore like to see details of any schemes that City College has already put forward to the LSC for refurbishment of the centre.
These would presumably have included a new-build development in the current car park area at the rear of the site, which the society would welcome.
- Ninka Willcock, The Brighton Society, Terminus Street, Brighton
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