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The history of the demise of the West Pier was concisely chronicled by Adam Trimingham last week (The Argus, August 4).

This was timely information for all those who write ill-informed letters to this paper. The uncaring attitude of AVP Ltd. and the then Brighton Council can now be seen to have been primarily responsible for the pier's sorry state.

I was immensely encouraged by Jean Calder's Opinion feature (The Argus, August 7) and believe that the West Pier still has a future. She makes a number of important points, in particular that if Dresden can rebuild its opera house we should be able to rebuild the West Pier. As a founder of the recently refurbished Dome, I for one would willingly become a founder of the West Pier for a similar outlay.

There must be many people, not only locally but nationally, who would also be willing to contribute in this way.

The estimated cost of demolishing the pier is said to be over £3 million. It is absolutely certain that no organisation is going to come up with this money as there is no profit in it.

Therefore, left in its present state, it will become an increasing danger to bathers and shipping. I understand that many of the supports designed by Eugenius Birch are still sound and also that some new supports were installed a few years ago.

In any case, the remaining buildings would have had to have been removed so the storms and the arsonists have done this work free of charge.

I would be appalled if the West Pier Trust was forced into liquidation by an order for demolition.

After all, such funds as it has were contributed for the restoration of the pier, not its demolition.

In such event, surely the Trust should return the funds to the donors?

A possible way forward would be to form a parallel charity to support but not to own the pier, in the same way that Volk's Electric Railway Association supports the railway but does not own it.

In this way, contributions would be safeguarded and could only be used for the rebuilding of the pier.

Peter Bailey, Brighton <letter>

Letter: Give peace a go Arthur North suggested an eco-friendly rebuild of the West Pier that would be known as the "Peace Pier".

I have thought a lot about this as I feel that, whatever structure the pier takes, to identify it with "Peace" would certainly distinguish it from the Palace pier.

However, naming would be an empty gesture unless it was accompanied by some positive peace message, such as providing a platform for the various ethnic groups in our city to show their distinctive cultures.

Their artistic products might be in show-cases, perhaps, and a larger arena provided for music and drama, talks and discussions.

This way we could learn and understand so much more about the others in our midst than the little we gather from the occasional circus or musical performance or as customers in their restaurants and shops.

If in this way we could increase understanding and tolerance, even if only a little, our Peace Pier could be a microcosm of the world.

Idealistic? Perhaps. But I believe with determination and a touch of luck, ideals can sometimes be realised.

CC Fraser, Brighton <letter>

Letter: Two are best Even though I left Brighton in 1997, I am still concerned about the lovely (used to be) West Pier.

All the people I know in Brighton don't want to see the pier demolished. It is a natural icon.

In any case, Brighton can definitely support two piers. It's ridiculous for the Noble Organisation to squash everyone on their pier when there's a spare (waiting for renovation) just up the road.

Anne J. Smith (Mrs), London <letter>

Letter: Spouting off What a lovely spectacular idea is Mr M Bevis's vision of a Victorian sea fountain at the end of the West Pier (Letters, August 6).

If Shoreham fire brigade could use water hoses during the bath tub race this year on the River Adur, I am sure we could have water fountains spraying from the end of the West pier.

Wouldn't our poor pier look grand with such a display of sea power and the dignity of its past?

Mrs B Marchant, Shoreham by Sea <letter>

Letter: Romantic ruin I've grown very fond of the structure that was formerly the West Pier.

Why can't we just clean up the rubbish near the beach and preserve the "crystal palace" out to sea as a reef for underwater sea life, an aviary for the starlings, an example of Victorian engineering and a monument to civic procrastination.

Why must it be demolished? No one ever talks about rebuilding/demolishing Stonehenge or St Pancras Priory in Lewes.

Let it survive as Brighton's own picturesque ruin.

Alan (Fred) Pipes, Brighton <letter>

Letter: Save the booth I'm writing to try to save the ticket booth on the West Pier.

Despite fires, petrol bombs and gales, it is in perfect condition.

It would be a nice artifact to put in the Brighton Museum.

Georgia Ashton (aged 10), Brighton <letter>

Letter: We need novelty I was all for saving the West Pier until the fires and collapses.

Sadly, it is now just a blot on the landscape and should be scrapped.

In its place, we should build two stunning, modern breakwaters with cafes, bars and kiosks to create the one thing that is missing in Brighton - a sandy beach with a huge, clean, outdoor, sea-water swimming area.

We have done wonders in creating a fantastic prom full of bars, shops and artist galleries. We have beach volleyball, basketball, sailing and paddling pools.

We've had concerts, fireworks, movies and powerboats. Even the old bandstand is going to get a lick of paint. How many more tourists would flock to Brighton if we had a man-made, clean, sandy beach?

Come on, give up on the pier - we need something new.

Ian Green, Portslade <letter>

Letter: Draw a line Let's draw a line under the West Pier saga.

After all, the money could be spent on something useful - a hospital or the like.

People these days want amusements, not nostalgia or two piers.

I've been on both in my youth, but time has marched on.

Richard Monk, Woodingdean <letter>

Letter: It will be a hard act to follow so join up now Congratulations to the Pride Committee of Brighton and Hove.

The festival gets better and better every year, as I heard many times from many different people over last weekend.

A big thank you to The Argus for its excellent coverage over the past few weeks.

It seems like only yesterday our single gay float tagged on to the Brighton festival floats.

Boy, how times have changed since 1966.

If only Councillor Dennis Hobden had been alive today to see this spectacle.

He would have seen a meeting of minds and an atmosphere of mutual understanding and celebration that he could only have dreamed of in his day.

Hilda Braid (EastEnders' Nana Moon), who was in my car along with Phil Starr, said she could hardly believe her eyes and everyone made her most welcome.

She said she felt like a teenager again and would be returning next year.

With a new, incoming committee to be formed soon for 2005, this year's Pride will be a hard act to follow. I call upon new, thinking people to join Pride and get involved for 2005.

To the out-going committee a big thank you, you did us proud.

Brian Ralfe, Hove <letter>

Letter: Show some pride Wow! Kirsty Finnemore (Letters, August 11) needs to chill out.

She says she avoids Brighton like the plague on Pride day because being gay just isn't normal.

Well, Kirsty, the reason we have Pride is because of people like you, people who still treat us as if we're not normal, as if we are somehow sub-human.

One day a year we party on the streets of Brighton to show Kirsty and everyone else like her that we are here to stay, to commemorate our long fight for basic rights and, for one day of the year, to be ourselves and not be in fear of being bashed.

And in the process of all this heinous partying, we bring millions of pounds into the city.

So, Kirsty, run for the hills if you will but we will still be here in Brighton, holding hands and having fun.

Benedict Brook, Brighton <letter>

Letter: The voters of central hove will remember I would like to congratulate Councillor Keith Taylor on his appointment as principal speaker of the Green Party of England and Wales (The Argus, August 7).

He stated: "Where the Greens were strong, as in Brighton, voters could see they made a real difference". Here in Hove, too, they have really made their mark.

The fact we have this monstrous over-development of the King Alfred site hanging over us is due to the Greens voting with Labour last year.

Even though the original ridiculous Tin Can Towers idea has been abandoned in favour of a far denser but still over-powering housing scheme, the Greens and now the Lib-Dems are all voting along with the Labour Group.

I am sure the voters in central Hove will remember this.

Councillor Averil Older, Hove <letter>

Letter: Where is the flag?

When I walk along Worthing's promenade, three things puzzle me.

One is the borough council's notices proclaiming Worthing's beach is a seaside award winner. None of the beaches has the all-important Blue Flag so who made this award?

Secondly, although Worthing does have a beach inspector's office, the flagpoles along the beaches never display flags to say whether it is safe to swim or not.

Even in very rough weather, the only flags displayed are those of St George or the Union Jack. Who ever heard of award-winning beaches that never display warning notices?

Finally, an excellent cycle lane was recently installed along Worthing's eastern promenade. The lane could not be more clearly marked and is well used so why are pedestrians allowed to deliberately walk in the middle of the cycle lane, forcing the cyclists to deviate and ride amongst the walkers?

This thoughtless and sometimes difficult behaviour by walkers completely defeats the purpose of the scheme.

P Ingram, Worthing <letter>

Letter: Cycle of abuse I have cycled many times along Brighton Road by Buckingham Park, Shoreham, and noted there are always cars parked on the bike lanes.

It grieves me that we spend so much taxpayers' money on these lanes to no avail.

The same applies to Dyke Road and Dyke Road Avenue - cars are parked on the cycle lanes yet no attempt is made to enforce the law.

On Worthing seafront, the council dare not mark out cycle lanes as they would be abused by all.

As a contrast, the council has made an excellent job of the cycle lanes between Worthing pier and Lancing, at enormous cost, of course.

Let us hope it will be a success.

WJ Rogers, Southwick <letter>

Letter: No support Acting Sergeant Ebeling paints a reassuring picture of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) working in North Laine (Letters, August 2).

If only it was true. Many residents have complained to me they have never seen them.

The reality is we have drug takers, drunks, vandals, graffiti and unsocial noise at nights. We would love to see PCSOs making an impact on these continuing problems.

It's not words we want, Sergeant Ebeling, it's effective policing on a daily basis.

John Pearce, North Laine Representative <letter>

Letter: Return our bench Would the persons who stole the garden bench seat and Union Jack flag from Leach Court, a sheltered home in Eastern Road, kindly return them.

The garden is used by the residents to get fresh air and sunshine and they paid for the bench themselves.

This was a despicable act and I hope you think of the consequences.

If you have any conscience you will return the bench and the flag to Leach Court. If you don't want to be known, please put them back the way you took them.

John Pippard, Leach Court, Park Street, Brighton <letter>

Letter: First class How is the following for first class service?

My double-glazed opening window developed a broken hinge. As the whole bungalow was double glazed about ten years ago, I got in touch with the original installers, Goatleys.

The fitter arrived the same day, gave me a price which I agreed to, put in two hinges and within 15 minutes I had paid up and he was gone.

Well done Goatleys Ltd.

Robert Drury, Shoreham <letter>

Letter: Absent father My ex was a good dad until he went to Singapore. I can count on one hand the amount of times he has contacted my two children in the past nine months, either by email or phone.

I, too, had trouble with my son after the split. Thankfully, he has come through it now.

My ex is the loser. At the end of the day, he doesn't know his children any more and, although I have been through hell at times, the good times far outweigh the bad.

He has missed so many funny moments. The children are well adjusted now and seem happy enough, no thanks to their father.

Name and address supplied <letter>

Letter: Who should pay?

No insurance? Car crushed!

Who should pay for the operation, removal, crushing, disposal?

What a cheap way to get rid of your old car.

Just leave it un-insured and save the cost of removal. Bring back the immediate one-year ban.

Reg Moores, Brighton