NOW we have the full plans for the redevelopment of the King Alfred site, it is obvious it will be an eyesore which will remove privacy from the beach, lose a public beach parking area and remove sea views from the footpath, road and local residences, even some more distant ones uphill who currently see the sea.

That will downgrade house values too for those residents.

The King Alfred should be a public sports stadium.

This plan suggests a sports facility which will be mainly private to the residents who have access and can book with ease without travel or parking worries.

I do not think any building on the beachside of the road should take place except for cafés, restaurants, public toilets, swimming pools, entertainment for beach users and piers.

Housing and hotels should be on the opposite side of the road so there is maximum privacy for changing, clean sea air reaching the footpaths and roadside parking with clear sea views.

The planners need to rethink the whole plan and include some frequent quality bus services linked to the railway stations and a usable parking plan for cars.

It also needs pedestrian crossing lights to the site.

Hopefully a car park will be built on the opposite side of the road to the beach, possibly multi-storey at the same height as the sports centre.

The income from a seaside resort is dependent on tourists but must also cater for residents.

The most popular sites are not swamped with beachside buildings or local residents cooking or waste bin smells.

They have open spaces, putting, places for changing, nice beachside walks and, most important, quality public toilets and somewhere to eat, get an ice cream and enjoy sea air.

They also have easy access and cheap quality parking and bus access.

My idea would be a quality Olympic-sized swimming pool, a children’s pool, an infants' pool and a second storey with a gymnasium, sauna, coffee room and entertainment machines. If room, a bowling alley.

The top should be flat surrounded by a small wall with deckchairs and an ice cream parlour.

Another idea would be an ice skating rink (possibly in the flat top area).

Such a facility would be expensive but make loads of money in Hove, which, at the moment is the paymaster and Cinderella of current city spending with few facilities for locals.

R P Lambeth, Martin Road, Hove