Like many people who love the unique character of Brighton and its Regency architecture, I was looking forward with enthusiasm to the imminent publication of Dr Anthony Seldon's new book, outlining the past, present and future for Brighton and Hove.

But oh dear, what an unmitigated disappointment and disaster awaited us in the pages of The Argus last week.

To read the first few instalments of the book, I was hopeful that at last we had found a champion in putting forward the case against modern architecture, that which has wrought havoc in the last half of the 20th Century to many of our cities, notably London.

What in the name of God is Dr Seldon thinking about?

The front cover of his book should have served as a warning as to what the pages of the book contained and a stark reminder of what the future nightmare of this city could be.

A monstrous collection of tall, unsympathetic carbuncles, to quote a well-known phrase, masquerading as so-called modern architecture.

In what seems to be a rather large contradiction, he lambasted the building of Marine Gate being constructed on the eastern entrance to the city and poured plaudits on the Van Alen building on Marine Parade.

Dr Seldon should realise Marine Gate was at least built on the outskirts of the city, away from sensitive architecture, unlike the Van Alen building in the city centre and on a stretch of listed buildings.

And how anyone can put buildings such as Amex House, Embassy Court, and The Meeting House in a top ten of Brighton and Hove's buildings proves that, along with his book, Dr Seldon should not and cannot be taken seriously.

But it was after reading the final chapter I realised Dr Seldon really has completely lost the plot. To suggest that all the properties in Peacehaven and Telscombe should be demolished to make a green, open space is not only offensive to people's intelligence but also to those who take the future of this city very seriously indeed.

Dr Seldon almost had me fooled with the publication of his early April Fool's joke. I suggest he sticks to his day job and leaves the future of this city to the thousands of inhabitants and visitors who love and appreciate it.

-D A Coles, Peacehaven