I came from Merseyside to Brighton in 1980 to take over a medical practice on the town's outskirts.

Brighton impressed me as being somewhere with a busy and self-absorbed community, in which everyone rushed around, catching up on themselves and their neighbours, and with little time to spare for outsiders.

As I had previously experienced the warmth of being welcomed in the North and, before that, in the Thames Valley, I found this way of life strange.

But, I reasoned, it was because Brighton was somewhere with pretty much everything in the way of material assets, it didn't need to concern itself with those who had nothing.

Working in medicine for 40 years, alongside police, mental health, social and church workers, confirmed this view.

Sadly, there has been little to alter it - except for one occasion when, on a cold, grey November night, I looked in on St Patrick's Church on my way home from a meeting.

I found a haven of warmth and goodwill for the dozen or so ragged and dishevelled rough sleepers who had dropped in to escape the icy winds and misery outside.

This was before the church had been adapted and they were sitting on hard benches, clutching their plastic bags containing all their possessions and were just happy to have a short time in the warmth and comfort before going back outside into the cold, uncaring world.

The respite and time they received to recharge their batteries was a reason for them to continue living and hoping.

Since then, I have watched Father Alan Sharpe's organisation grow from strength to strength, giving care, hope and encouragement to less fortunate citizens, who find coping with demands of our complex and difficult society impossible without the right support.

I had hoped, with all the money in the world available today, the twice-blessed city of Brighton and Hove would have developed a heart beneath its facade of pomp and pride.

However, its refusal to provide even a mere pittance for the support of St Patrick's night shelter proves otherwise.

I sincerely hope I am mistaken and that, somewhere, somehow, a more favourable decision can be taken.

If it does, we will all benefit.

-JJ Hayes, Portslade