I AM really pleased that after all these years the local council are proposing to build a new conference centre, but to compete with the likes of Birmingham and other UK cities, it needs to be large... really large.

It isn’t any good building one that will house 10,000 people, with some standing room.

The location that they are thinking about is also wrong.

I agree that the best location for any building that is going to hold a large number of people is somewhere in the town centre, but these days parking must be the biggest consideration and in my opinion the city centre is not the right place to house a really large car park, even if there is a car park beneath the new centre.

The new centre has got to be large enough to host other events, and that is another reason about the car parking.

Maybe if the centre is large enough we might start to attract the top ‘pop stars’ of our country and abroad. We have lost these top stars because the Brighton Centre is too small.

An example is when Cliff Richard hosted his annual tennis matches. He brought with him other stars and the centre was a sell out every year. It was very difficult to get tickets, people used to queue for hours. Then off he went to Birmingham where he could attract large crowds for his charity.

They were excellent evenings. Let us try and tempt such events back to Brighton.

What is needed is a conference centre large enough to host just about every event you can think of. How about the large boxing matches? These days such events almost fill the O2 arena. That is the sort of conference centre Brighton needs.

A new building holding 10,000 people or 7,500 seated will not fill the bill of a true modern centre.

I think the council should consider a stadium holding 40,000 people would be nearer the mark. I know it is big, but I am sure it will pay its way eventually.

Lastly, the location. This has to be right. I think the only place to build it is out in the country, close to where The Amex stadium is.

There also appears to be a possibility that a hotel might be built close by.

Then you would have the accommodation necessary for the people attending the conference centre. The hotel would also be available for people who might be attending the Centre for a large concert, and wished to stay overnight.

The location may not be ideal but surely it must be worth consideration.

Does anyone else agree with me?

David Rowland Harvest Close Telscombe Cliffs