When the space was created on The Moor there were those who couldn't wait to fill it with something – anything. We had stuff erected at the Prince Of Wales Pier, which was such a disaster; it all had to be removed, at great cost to the local taxpayers.

We have the Event Square, for Punch and Judy, galleries to show art. I don't see there would be room for theatre productions.

Why would anyone want to go on the pier, to turn themselves inwards? Isn't the point that we look outwards towards the sea, in all its moods?

Peter De Savory tried to introduce measures, to provide what he thought was missing in the town – most of which involved loss of access to the waterfront by locals and boat owners.

There used to be a pier master, with a fee-paying toll booth, where young lads used to scramble through when he went to the toilet. Their main activity was catching crabs on a string, then letting them go!

There is “life on the pier”. If you've come into the town on a coach trip for instance, the pier is your first easily accessed view of our wonderful harbour. (More seats are required, I do agree.) No! This is a scheme being hatched by some self-seeking entrepreneurs who can see riches to be made with the help of our cash-strapped council.

At the initial negotiating we will be assured no restrictions on the pier will occur. But bit by bit – by stealth – our “free” pier will become privatised, and the council will be delighted to have it taken off their hands!

Do we want to have our pier developed and planned by an un-elected body? I don't know who Tim Light and Chris Smith are. The former says “I love the pier.” Well, we all love the pier! Just let the council keep it safe and stop it from falling into the sea! That will be good enough for me.

Old HighSchoolGirl (Name and address supplied)