I find it hard to believe John Wells-Thorpe, himself a distinguished architect, should be so determinedly committed to defending the indefensible.

By endorsing Brighton's West Pier enabling development, now submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council for planning approval, he elects himself champion of a truly monstrous scheme that will not only spell the ruination of Brighton's magnificent seafront but also serve to degrade the entire city.

For what? For an assembly of glazed, shed-like buildings which can only be compared to the banal retail outlets to be found in any airport or mainline railway station.

As The Guardian put it so succinctly: "It will be like building a supermarket in Salisbury Close to pay for the restoration of the cathedral."

Save Our Seafront is passionate in wanting to see the West Pier restored to its former glory. We simply want a worthy and more appropriate scheme.

That is why we held an exhibition so people could see "A Better Alternative".

Mr Wells-Thorpe denigrated these proposals but failed to realise they are capable of achieving the same commercial space as St Modwen's scheme or appreciate they are very much at an initial first-concept stage.

It is also disingenuous to suggest the admired and experienced architects who presented this alternative would have failed to provide safety railings.

Nor was it ever claimed the two piazzas projecting from the promenade would contain cafes and restaurants. They were simply included to be attractive communal spaces.

What the scheme demonstrates above all is the first principle of urban marine planning, that no structure of any size should rise above the level of the seafront, blocking out the sea and the horizon.

It is still not too late, Mr Wells-Thorpe. Join Save Our Seafront and embrace a better plan.

-Clive Buxton, Save Our Seafront, Brighton