SO the leader of Brighton and Hove City Council is “bitterly disappointed and angry” that the £4 million funding bid for the regeneration of the Madeira Drive arches was rejected (Argus, April 4).

Many are bitterly disappointed and angry that the council completely neglected this outstanding structure for so long, failed to invest in even basic maintenance and upkeep, leading to the deplorable mess they’re in today.

He accuses the Government of “letting the city down” and its failure to invest “even a modest amount in our seafront heritage”.

Successive councils are the ones who have failed to invest.

Soon, unless there’s a fairly speedy plan B forthcoming from the council, there will be two great heaps of wreckage for visitors to photograph in the city, one at each end.

The West Pier remains and the rusting Madeira Road arches, which doubtless will start collapsing soon.

Both stand as huge reproaches to the indifference of the supposed guardians of what the council leader calls “our seafront heritage”.

Brighton is in serious decline. Numbers of visitors are falling. Everywhere there is decay and dereliction.

I had a good look at the Royal Pavilion the other day.

Parts of the exterior seem to be cracking up and the whole

building is going grey and looks seedy.

Let’s hope when a grant is needed for maintaining this particular attraction, and you can bet it will be, the council do better than their efforts at getting one for the arches.

Chris Horlock, Shoreham