I used to live in Rottingdean and found what Simon Fanshawe had to say about people living in the village and working elsewhere interesting (Argus, October 26). But those who live there value village life, not city life. So why should it become absorbed by a city?

The less prosperous suffer the most from rising house prices and rents. Concern about The Place To Be as a concept is valid because the campaign further exacerbates the situation. Mr Fanshawe is critical of this, knocking a recent correspondent voicing misgivings about it. This was unworthy of his talents.

Finally, Mr Fanshawe says we should grow and become a city. He has previously stated a city will be better, not bigger, as a rebuff to those concerned about greenfield develop-ment. Surely this is a contradiction?

-Peter Poole, BASH, (Brighton and Still Hove against the city bid)