Simon Fanshawe asks why I object to the city bid (Argus, September 21). I notice he uses the word town throughout his letter, which is more honest than Brighton and Hove Council which is already calling us a city.

We need to divide the city concept from the individual activities which Simon quotes in its favour. These activities should be judged on their own merits, not as part of an overall agenda. We can market Brighton and Hove as tourist towns but the bid goes too far in creating an artificial entity, the city by the sea.

I do not wish to carp from the sidelines, but The Place to Be campaign is advertised everywhere. Anyone who disagrees with it seems marginalised in such a climate.

BASH! has just submitted an anti-city bid to the Queen and MP Mike O'Brien. I guess they get the last word.

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