THE conference season, once a booming part of Brighton’s economy, has been and gone and one could be excused for not having noticed it.

A Matt cartoon, on the front of Wednesday’s Daily Telegraph, showed two railmen at Brighton Station, with the caption: “The Lib Dems are all leaving their conference. Due to passenger numbers we’re running fewer trains.”

The Conservatives have long forsaken Brighton. Labour favours Liverpool, the TUC Manchester.

Seaside resorts appear to be out of favour.

So, what is the logic behind the council’s proposals, confirmed earlier this year, and enthusiastically endorsed by Warren Morgan when he was leader, to demolish the present conference centre and relocate it, at enormous public expense, to a gigantic 10,000-seater hall at Black Rock?

Have any of the political parties and other big conference-holders been sounded out about this?

Black Rock is nearly two miles from the current central location, from the big hotels, railway station, restaurants and so on.

It currently has no public transport to speak of.

Why would conference goers want to trek out there?

This scheme has White Elephant written all over it.

Graham Chainey
The Albemarle, Marine Parade, Brighton