There is quite a rapid move towards a more regional approach to affairs and I see this as an erosion of our individuality.

I understood the Human Rights Act gave our area an option for greater autonomy.

Our counties are very important to many of us, so much so that when I have asked people this question I am not surprised at their answer: If a team from their county was to play a team representing England, who would they want to win? Their county.

Sussex is a very old region, older than England itself, but in today's global economy governments seem to have to favour bigger regions.

But look at some of the nations who are at or near the top in economic terms.

If Sussex were to be treated as a separate economic region, where would it rank?

I think it would come out quite well. You can see that in Brighton and Hove, Crawley and the region's second largest town, Worthing, where there are more than 40,000 people in the workforce and such blue-chip companies as GlaxoSmithKline, Lloyds, Norwich Union and Southern Water.

I hope The Argus will continue leading the way in raising our great county's profile.

Another very expensive layer of government would end all hopes of ever seeing lower taxes.

-Ian Steedman, Sussex First, St George's Road, Worthing