I think I have found a way to solve the problems of the West Pier and the Falmer Stadium: Present Tony Blair with an "intelligence report" which says there are weapons of mass destruction hidden beneath the pier and the patch of nondescript land at Falmer which is the proposed site of the community stadium. Naturally, they could be activated within 45 minutes by hordes of immigrants with terrorist intentions.

The combined might of US and UK forces could then surgically bomb the two areas before sending in reconstruction teams to build a new pier, undersea hotel with parking and a stadium in the Falmer bomb crater, ensuring the development is sunk into the ground.

Modern military technology would allow that the surrounding environment remains intact.

Facetious? Maybe. But not half as farcical as Blair's half-apology for taking the world to war on false pretences.

-Roger Hudson, Eastbourne