Conservative councillor Trevor Alford wrote "no one living locally would get any pleasure from seeing the closure of a landmark such as Foredown Tower" (Letters, January 18), hardly a passionate defence of a city attraction facing the threat of closure by his Conservative colleagues.

I visited the tower with my family last spring - my children loved it and are looking forward to going back. It's a great outing for families. We need more of them, not less in this city.

Council officers put its possible closure to the former Labour-run council many times, but we refused. One of our election pledges last May was to introduce a citizens' card which would have promoted attractions such as Foredown Tower with resident discounts and the promotion of special events.

Hove MP Celia Barlow is fighting to keep Foredown Tower open. Please sign her online petition so the council will know that local people feel more strongly than Coun Alford.

  • Simon Burgess, Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown