I went to Shoreham-by-Sea recently and was dismayed to be confronted by the buildings of the Ropetackle development (The Argus, September 12).

Where once from Shoreham's ancient High Street you could see the land dipping to the River Adur and then rising across the marshland to the Downs, under an exhilarating skyscape, the scene is now completely blocked by the high Ropetackle buildings which create a claustrophobic effect more like London.

A similarly disjointed aspect to the landscape would be imposed if the ridiculously contrived designs for the King Alfred site are realised - fantasy architecture which owes nothing to form or function and whose garish fairground colours would jar uncomfortably with the elegant and restrained nature of Brighton and Hove's character.

The residents of Brighton and Hove have a right to not let opportunist local councillors and egocentric architects inflict their half-baked concepts upon the local community.

I see that the managing director of Karis - the company responsible for these plans - would include me among the "small group of regressionists which spouts lies and misinformation" (The Argus, September 15).

My reply to him would be that many people cherish our city's graceful reference to history and don't want his ugly idea to spoil it.

Am I the only person who thinks the quaint Victorian warehouses at Ropetackle should have been saved and that the splendid King Alfred complex should be kept?

-Bob Baldwin, Brighton