Tucked away in the back streets of Brighton is an architectural gem. If you are not a bingo player you have probably never been inside. Far fewer people will have been inside for what it was originally built for – theatre.

Brighton and Hove City Council don’t want you to be able to experience that – ever.

I am talking about the Brighton Hippodrome. You probably aren’t aware of it.

It was designed by Frank Matcham in 1901. Haven’t heard of him? Well do you watch Strictly Come Dancing? He was responsible for Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

Matcham’s other extant theatres include London Palladium, London Coliseum, Shepherds Bush Empire and Buxton Opera House.

Major theatre companies are interested in running it as there is nothing similar in the region.

Importantly it has a ‘fly tower’ for scenery, enabling major West End shows to be staged.

Internationally acclaimed writers would like to see their plays performed in it. Famous actors and thousands of local people want it saved.

But no. Brighton City Council wants it destroyed. It appears that by misrepresentation and omission they have conspired against its use for live theatre.

It has hosted top-name entertainers from Harry Houdini, Gracie Fields, Sarah Bernhardt, Sammy Davis Jr, Laurence Olivier and local star Max Miller through to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

As a theatre, its design enables its use in different configurations. It is also suited for conferences.

It is Grade II* listed, putting it in the top six per cent of all listed buildings in the UK but that carries no weight with the council.

It is also of national if not international importance as one of the few theatres originally built as a circus.

Brighton and Hove City Council should hang its collective head in shame.

K Upton