The Argus asked: Does Brighton and Hove need a new leisure centre?

YES, it certainly does – especially now we are a city. But it needs to include an ice rink as this is part of our heritage – remember Brighton Tigers?

So, come on councillors and planning officers, learn from Guildford (which is also a university city) where they have several pools, an ice rink, bowling facilities and more all in one complex known as Spectrum. This has a park and ride too.

Let’s resurrect Brighton Tigers and skating for all ages. Think of the health benefits this would bring.

Your letter writer on April 6 had a point: a coffee shop or bar would encourage people to stay and socialise and perhaps try a new sport.

The car park next to the King Alfred is low enough to have another tier on top. What happened to the underground car park? I recall at one time we even had a little ice rink down there.

Elisabeth Steen Woodroffe, Roman Road, Hove

BRIGHTON and Hove City Council, whether it be Conservative, Labour or Green, has for years put forward the arts as a first act, resulting in the Brighton Festival and Fringe. This is only second to the Edinburgh Arts Festival, and most residents support it.

However, this has in the past been at the expense of the sporting and recreation side of the city, resulting in exorbitant fees for local sport, a tired leisure centre in the form of The King Alfred, a rundown cycling track in Preston Park and no movement on an international leisure facility at Black Rock. Even Withdean Stadium looked a dump until the Albion put in money to use it as a temporary home.

The enormous success of the Amex stadium (courtesy of private citizen Tony Bloom, with sincere thanks) has taken most councillors by surprise.

Most sporting citizens in Sussex have for years told councils that first-class sports facilities bring prestige to the city, as well as the arts. Somewhere there must be a balance.

James Greed, Wheatfield Way, Moulsecoomb

IT IS a disgrace that we lack a decent leisure centre in Brighton and Hove.

When Guildford has the Spectrum Centre, you would think a city such as ours should have one at least equal to it.

Richard Baker, Suffolk Street, Hove

THE King Alfred Leisure Centre has passed its shelf-life and urgently needs an upgrade. Nothing short of a new, state-of-the-art centre will do for Hove.

In the meantime, surely city planners can see the worth of a temporary project as a magnet for new enterprise and investment for Hove seafront.

The business analysts’ prediction that Brighton and Hove will become a “boom city” must be within our grasp.

A temporary ice rink at The King Alfred would provide a serviceable facility of ice skating, sports developments, allied enterprises and sponsorships around the area.

A contemporary ice skating venue and this ancient leisure centre could unite to attract development for the seafront.

To do nothing is not an option. Discern-ing and frustrated taxpayers yearn to take a sad song and make it better.

Bring on a stop-gap King Alfred ice rink so as to flag up the viable potential of the seafront for leisure use.

Patricia Ginman, Keep Sussex Skating