THERE needs to be a rational solution to the ongoing argument about students and their effect on Brighton and Hove.

The influx of students into the city has aggravated an already serious local housing shortage.

In fairness this situation has accumulated over several decades. Brighton and Hove, like many other areas, suffered through lack of new house building. Purpose built student accommodation was built at Badger Way in Coldean and Culpepper Close in Moulsecoomb. More such flats should have been constructed as the universities expanded. It would make sense to build more such homes, now upon land around the various campus sites.

Students must accept that noise levels must be kept at an acceptable level in rural areas. On the credit side the universities employ many thousands of people.

This is important. Both the University of Sussex and Brighton Polytechnic, now University of Brighton, both arrived in the early 1960s. During the next 20 years most of the local light industry closed. The two universities created many jobs to replace these losses. Both of these institutions are as vital to the local economy as the conference or tourist trade.

In the 1970s Worthing, Bognor and other places were effected by an influx of elderly people. This effected health and other social services in these towns.

Likewise as the commuter belt spreads further from London many places will require more housing and social services to handle the growing population. Both sides of the argument regarding students need to agree to co-exist in a sensible manner. When large numbers of people, for whatever reason move into an area, change will occur – but the ability to adapt is vital.

Richard J. Szypulski, Lavender Street, Brighton