WITH regards to the letters and consultation for the gasworks site at East Brighton, we are pleased that there may be proposals for redevelopment after such a long period of neglect, but we feel we are missing an opportunity to preserve our disappearing industrial heritage, while still providing appropriate and affordable housing.

We invite your readers to look at some of the exciting and innovative solutions already in existence such as the Dublin Gasometer lofts and apartments, or the Kings Cross site.

Both of these, are sympathetic to their environments providing much-needed and community-centred housing, whilst keeping the townscape.

One of the advantages of maintaining the shell is avoiding deep foundation work that is required by high-rise buildings. Decontamination of the site is essential if people are going to live above, but, deeper foundations equals more cost and potential pollution.

Selma Montford and Fran Pickering

Address supplied