As an active member the "gaggle of so-called conservationists" (John Parry, The Argus, October 5), I would address a misconception by the supporters for the regeneration of the West Pier at any cost.

We would all like to see the West Pier rebuilt but we do not want to see the character and heritage of the city's seafront irretrievably ruined by an utterly insensitive development either side of the pier, which would block out both the sea view and the view of the pier from the King's Road.

English Heritage, in its policy guidelines on enabling development, is clear: The development must not materially harm the setting of the heritage asset. The historic setting, in this case, is the city's seafront, a conservation area older than the pier and equally prestigious architecturally. To sacrifice it for the pier would be the tail wagging the dog.

The architectural impressions of this proposed development may be bright, cheerful and attractive - they are unlikely to be anything else - but do we really want a glorified Churchill Square-type shopping centre on the seafront blocking our view of the sea and the pier?

With the trust and its strident supporters, including Brighton and Hove City Council, there appears to be either an arrogant disregard of, or sheer indifference to, residents' very real concerns at the proposed destruction of one of the city's real heritage gems, the seafront.

-Clive I Buxton, Secretary, Save Our Seafront