I recently had the honour and privilege of hearing a speech by the wonderful Gavin Henderson, who attended a World Performing Arts Conference in Columbia this spring.

One of the workshops focussed on the ‘perfect’ theatre.

After discussions with experts, it was finally agreed it would be about 1,500 seats, in the round layout, with large wings, fly tower and orchestra pit.

Gavin listened, then said: “And how about if it was designed by the greatest theatre architect ever, Frank Matcham, including a stunning ceiling?” to which they all sarcastically smirked.

He replied: “It exists. It’s the Brighton Hippodrome.”

Brighton and Hove City Council should be utterly ashamed it is allowing 60% destruction of a venue which can hold the large West End shows this city can never welcome because other venues do not have the facilities that the Hippodrome has. It should be ashamed to reject £15 million income to the city from just one show.

It should be ashamed to prefer more cinema screens for declining cinema audiences and yet another four restaurants over what could be one of the top three theatres in Great Britain, possibly in Europe.

Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, the outgoing chair of the economic and culture committee should definitely be ashamed of allowing this most beautiful building, specifically mentioned in the Brighton and Hove City Plan as the ‘cultural heart of the city’, to be demolished, developed and ruined, instead of compulsorily purchasing it.

It was a council officer who decided it couldn’t be classed as an ‘asset of community value ’because it hadn't been used ‘recently’, yet it was used for 100 of its 107 year history. If only a council officer had had the passion, vision and foresight a year ago, we would not be in this very sorry position now.

It is a very sad, black time indeed. Generations from the past will be turning in their graves, generations of the present cannot underestimate what we are about to lose, and for generations of the future it will be gone forever.

Jo Jameson

Elm Drive

Hove