Adam Trimingham’s view of the Hove Town Hall redevelopment situation was interesting but his judgment is based on only a partial view (October 29).

Whilst the shell may not have reached the ‘end of its useful life’ in terms of structural soundness, internally it has been quietly dying.

Wiring (lots of sockets don’t work) must be replaced, the heating/cooling system isn’t working and 21st-century technological needs are unmet. Addressing issues like these is well overdue at Hove Town Hall.

The sad loss of atrium plants, mentioned by Mr Trimingham, which conditioned air and shaded reception from the sun, happened over 10 years ago under a Labour administration that wanted to save just under £200 a year on their maintenance. Within a year or two of that, Labour spent £3,000 on a planning application and installing grey film over the windows to reduce solar glare.

Sadly, it didn’t work in the atrium, through which solar glare continues to plague reception desk staff. The grey film ruined the daylight quality around the building so carefully designed by the architect.

The need to sell King’s House (the council is skint), relocate staff, alter working methods, and effect major repairs, means Hove Town Hall has to take the hit.

City Direct has already been totally redone (badly) and taken in the Holland Road police as roommates in exchange for turning their old police station into a school. Frankly, the building is a waste of space in the 21st century in the middle of Hove.

The spacious common parts are lovely, as is the use of wood but working conditions are poor and Hove Town Hall is dysfunctional.

Knock it down.

A scheme that combined a new leisure centre with a new suite of offices, council chamber, and performance facilities could be put there.

Or put a new leisure/arts complex there and use the King Alfred site for a new council/police building over a visitor-friendly, hospitality-focused, income-generating scheme. Or do a new arts and leisure centre at King Alfred and build a new town hall with flats above it. Lots of options.

The unhappy accretions, changes and make dos along the way, almost since Hove Town Hall was built, are awkward history.

It does not bode well for its future for more to be done to change Hove Town Hall’s concrete fortress like it’s the architectural equivalent of someone addicted to plastic surgery. Just knock it down and make better use of the site. Cut the garment according to need.

Valerie Paynter, saveHOVE