Christopher Hawtree’s suggestion, first made at public questions at Brighton and Hove City Council and now appearing in The Argus (February 11) that Hove should be twinned with Hove Mobile Park in North Dakota, US – an unincorporated community with a population of two and an average age of 74 – is an insult to the indigenous population of his adopted town.

He seems to be suggesting that our Hove should be twinned with North Dakota’s Hove as what they share in common, aside from the name, is a small population and high average age.

These are two unfair stigmas of Hove which, as someone born and bred in the area, I have fought all my life.

I can only echo the council leader’s suggestion that if Mr Hawtree is so enamoured with Hove, North Dakota, then he should move there.

I wonder how long it would take the locals to decide that two’s company but three’s a crowd.

Nigel Furness
Cambridge Road, Hove