As a resident of Brighton and Hove for many years, I have read in The Argus with incredulity and much confusion of the continued blocking of applications for the redevelopment of the West Pier.

Are the people and organisations who have striven so tirelessly to stop the redevelopment of this national and international landmark now happy with the events of yesterday?

I am sure this minority's response to such an accusation would be they really had the best interests of the pier at heart and wanted to ensure any redevelopment was in keeping with the look and feel of the seafront.

I am also sure they will say it was never their intention to let the inevitable happen and that someone took a light to the pier.

However, what they have ended up achieving by their actions will directly lead to our city almost certainly losing one of its most important landmarks.

Had the employees of Brighton and Hove City Council, which has been responsible for saving the pier, been bolder in their decision making and much less prone to listening to a tiny minority's views, we would not be in the awful position we are now.

Why did the damage to the pier in December have to occur before planning was eventually granted? We have, after all, been waiting for 28 years for someone to ensure the pier was saved.

The West Pier's epitaph: "Who needs the strength of the sea to destroy me when I had all that help from the lobby groups?"

-Conrad Hamer, Nevill Way, Hove