Councillor Averil Older says all we ever wanted on the King Alfred site was a new sports centre for the residents of Brighton and Hove (The Argus, February 27).

Yet she and her conservative colleagues have come up with no viable alternatives to the current plans and no funding proposals to meet the cost of a new sports centre.

It is the sports centre that is driving this redevelopment and it is a great shame this element is seldom mentioned.

I have considered the plans and no one can accuse the developers of cutting corners or of shunting the sports centre to a corner of the site.

Even Coun Older's colleague, the soon-to-be Tory mayor, Councillor David Smith, agrees the proposed new sporting facilities are out of this world.

Isn't it about time we all embraced this opportunity, including Coun Older.

The King Alfred is in a dreadful state and, if this scheme fails, where will our children look to for sporting excellence and what will be the future for sport in our city?

-Simon Schneider, Hove