While I cannot judge the need for more nursery places in the town centre, to claim that this, together with the planned marketplace, represents regeneration of the area, or is "about breathing life back into the heart of Shoreham", fails to recognise what was there before.

Until May last year, numbers 2 to 8 Tarmount Lane were a lively focus of voluntary and community activity.

In addition to the few that you mention, there were the Halcyon Club, Adur Community Transport, Dial-a-Ride, Adur Homefront, Adur Volunteer Bureau and the Tarmount Studios.

Furthermore, the Halcyon Club premises were used by a wide range of other community groups on almost every day of the week, providing social and educational activities for local people.

I'm not surprised that the plans for the nursery "were met with enthusiasm by councillors", as the site has stood as a derelict eyesore for more than a year and the council must have been wondering whether anyone would take it on in the current economic climate.

The proposals seem only a faint reflection of the grand aspirations of the Shoreham Renaissance.

That grand document is still on the council's website and, with hindsight, makes fascinating reading.

Pauline Price
chairman The Halcyon Club

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