If one goes to Eastbourne or Bournemouth, there is a central feature on the seafront - a bandstand. Regular concerts are played which visitors and locals alike enjoy.

In Brighton, a once elegant structure has deteriorated and fallen apart.

There are plans for that part of the seafront to be modernised which will, no doubt, include demolishing the bandstand and the walls around the gardens.

One would think Brighton and Hove City Council would give priority to repairs to the walls supporting the pavement area along the Kings Road, opposite several popular hotels.

The new play area adjacent to the West Pier is already crumbling. The tiled pathways are breaking up.

Western Road is embarrassingly dirty, the pavements strewn with chewing gum and refuse from fast-food outlets.

Visit places such as Newcastle upon Tyne, Bristol or Bath and note the difference in civic pride compared to Brighton and Hove.

It used to be a marvellous promenade to walk along but is rapidly losing the top surface due to endless scraping by machines clearing shingle.

The seats are often damaged and most need refurbishment and painting.

Many of the shelters in Hove have lost the seats so one can only stand in them, unlike the days when we were proud of our town and its amenities.

Is it so surprising we lost out in the Capital of Culture selection process?

-Laurence Hill, Kingsway, Hove