We are now in a drought situation, with hosepipe bans, sprinkler bans, soon car-wash bans, all because of a lack of natural rainfall during the past two winters.

Yet Brighton planners are going ahead, it seems, with plans for 850 homes at Brighton Marina, hundreds more at the King Alfred and hundreds more at the massive new Brighton City Point development.

Which, of course, means thousands of new reisdents, all requiring water. Just where is it to come from?

Southern Water will admit they have no immediate contingency plans should the reservoirs empty and who can guarantee any substantial rainfall in the future?

Desalination of sea-water seems so obvious, considering we are sitting on a guaranteed supply of the stuff.

Yet Southern Water have admitted, half-heartedly, that they have experimented with a desalination plant at Newhaven but the results are "disappointing" as they are not "cost effective".

They also say the huge diesel engines necessary to spin the pumps emit poisonous exhaust fumes.

Why not try sea power? It used to work at the old Tidemills at Bishopstone, so why not use it again?

I would suggest the Brighton Marina and King Alfred plans should have compulsory desalination plants before they are given the go-ahead.

-Don Franklin, Brighton