So, Southend Council has completely ignored a huge majority of people who supported, to a great extent, the three pier plans which were on the table for public viewing last spring.

The council is about to give in to the people with the most development money, yet again!

Letting a commercially orientated leisure company get their hands on our pier is like selling our heritage to another company.

Where have those ideas of last year gone? Keeping the pier in its historical style, passive recreation such as bird and wildlife watching and allowing ancient barges to come and go. What happened?

We were nearly at a reasonable plan for the beloved landmark. Now Tony Garner and his profit-making company riding in with a plan which will wreck the sanctuary-like pier end with yet another fairground ride, built with what looks like a concrete tube connecting to another concrete and glass tower.

If the council has any sense left it should go back to plan A and give the massive leisure companies a big body swerve.

Maybe the council has been giving in to development companies for so long that they now have concrete between their ears!

They are certainly dismissing the views of the majority.

In an age when people are looking for holidays away from noise and pollution, I should think that in itself could be a major marketing tool for the pier as it is.

And the cost? Maintaining the structure, some paint and sensitive hardware in Victorian/Regency style. The walk alone, some refreshments at the end and the spectacular view which already exists, already draw people in. It just needs organised and regular maintenance.

But then, perhaps that does not make enough profit for some. It seems the council is very weak at fighting for what is appropriate for the pier.

Peggy Dowie summed it up (Apr 14) after voicing some concerns over this proposed development when she said: "...but if this is the council's choice, then that's what people will get anyway."

Who said we live in a democracy?

J Constance
Shaftsbury Avenue
Southend