With regard to the proposed Brighton Marina development plans, I visited the display of the proposals at Jubilee Library and spoke to the architect.

What concerns me in particular is the lack of thought given to local wildlife which could be driven from the site by construction work.

The proposed swing bridge and its construction is likely to drive away shorebirds which come from the Arctic to winter along that exact part of the breakwater.

These birds, Purple Sandpipers, are locally rare and could be lost to Brighton and Hove if they go from here.

A proposed footbridge will damage the one surviving remnant of shingle beach on the western corner of the breakwater where seashore plants such as yellow-horned poppy and sea kale grow.

The shingle inside the harbour itself, where more shorebirds such as Ringed Plovers often gather, will go, too.

My point is that, with some flexibility, these areas could be left alone by the developers but they do not seem to have thought about the impact on the local wildlife.

The bridges will be the most damaging aspect of the plans in this regard and should be either not built or sited elsewhere.

There is little natural habitat left along the beach in Brighton and Hove and I believe we have a responsibility to protect biodiversity in our city, both for ourselves and for wildlife.

I hope wildlife will not yet again be ignored.

-Joseph Beale, Arundel Road, Brighton