I was the Planning Officer for Hove from 1973 until shortly before the merger with Brighton.

My old chairman David Barling's memory is playing tricks (Letters, March 9). There was no consent for a "shard of glass" on the King Alfred site. No such scheme or proposal ever won the approval of all parties.

He may be recalling a scheme for a glass slab block containing a hotel, which was designed for the RNR site which adjoins the King Alfred and is now part of the site of the Gehry scheme.

This was discussed at an informal level but it was never the subject of a planning application.

Moreover, the scheme was contrary to the Council's thenadopted planning brief. I gave a copy of the artist's impression of the proposal to the East Sussex Record Office in 1997.

  • Michael Ray, chairman, Regency Society of Brighton and Hove, Brangwyn Drive, Brighton