So an Olympic-sized pool and an ice rink have been "ruled out" for the King Alfred on the basis of a report by sports experts (The Argus, November 19). In fact, these are only recommendations. Any decisions will be made in due course by elected councillors.

People in Hove and Portslade have not yet been asked what they would like to see for the site and a development brief does not need to be completed until the second half of next year.

The report is welcome because it focuses on what should make up the core sports use of the site. Eventually, it should be possible to reach a common view. It's likely to boil down to a better swimming pool and improved dry sports facilities.

What will divide opinion is what kind of enabling development is needed to help fund the new centre. There are still those living in cloud cuckoo land who think this is not necessary because a quick wave of the National Lottery wand will magically deliver the sports centre of the century.

The report nails this myth by mentioning that even the largest-ever award from Sports England falls a long way short of what is needed to revive the King Alfred.

The pragmatic approach is to weigh up all the options from the list, which range from the commercial cinema-restaurant-type development proposed previously through to social housing.

-Coun Simon Battle, Vallance ward councillor, Landseer Road, Hove