I WENT on one of Trevor Povey’s excellent walks around Portslade Old Village and the Norman Manor on Saturday.

The remains of what was the original Norman building is in a deplorable state. The grass and weeds are so high we had to fight our way through while he did his best to show us the history of the site. It was last maintained by Hove Borough Council prior to the merger of Brighton and Hove. It is now fenced off for whatever reason and is in a sad and sorry state.

I went on a tour to the restored Lewes Priory last Wednesday and it was a pleasant surprise. I last went to the priory about ten years ago with Sussex University and it proves that these sites can be maintained and made accessible.

Portslade Manor and the old water tower observatory are completely forgotten and abandoned by the council, presumably as they are out in the sticks.

Surely something can be done to manage these two sites before they are lost forever?

G Curran, Lansdowne Place, Hove