The proposal of possibly pedestrianising St James’s Street in Brighton has raised its head once again.

It does every so often.

But this time our local Conservative MP, Simon Kirby, seems to be in favour, too.

I personally feel this is not a good idea.

Sure, if it went ahead, all the many coffee shops, cafes, restaurants and the like would be encroaching further on to the pavements, with tables and chairs, promoting drinking and dining “al fresco”.

However, stopping the traffic and especially the buses would kill the street stone dead in a fairly short time.

All the vibrancy and character that St James’s Street is known for would be gone.

Lots of shops would actually lose business once buses had been re-routed.

One only has to witness the huge popularity of the bus stop outside Morrisons, which always seems to be extremely well used.

I can’t see all the elderly folk who use it trekking down to the seafront in gale-force winds, or to other stops that may have to be used if the buses are re-routed.

The bus company are certainly not in favour.

I reckon it would be the death knell for this street.

It would take the life out of it and, before long, the traders would definitely live to regret such an idea.

Why not just leave it as it is? Most of the locals I have spoken to seem happy with it.

Why this constant urge to change everything when it is working all right and has done for many years?

Barry Kingston, Upper St James’s Street, Brighton