The headline "£8K a day on consultants" (The Argus, May 14) should alert councillors to the way in which employing consultants has grown out of hand.

Consultants from Copenhagen and London first had to learn about our city. Time spent doing this had to be funded. Ideas for the regeneration of London Road and Lewes Road could have come from citizens, they have first-hand knowledge of their city already.

Council officers could then assess whether there are practical and inexpensive ideas for improvement from citizens and community groups.

Sometimes even a coat of paint can do the trick. There might have been better ways of spending £1 million than carpeting New Road with granite blocks. That would have paid for the repair of the Birdcage Bandstand four times over.

The market traders came up with a good plan for the Open Market.

Some of the money spent on consultants could have been better spent making their scheme viable.

Many of the best urban innovations of the past 20 years in developing countries were led by local citizen groups. Urban resource centres in other cities around the world have shown how grassroots organisations can successfully challenge expensive ego trips and present viable alternatives.

Why don't we try to bring about improvements in this way in Brighton and Hove?

  • Selma Montford, Hon Secretary The Brighton Society Clermont Road, Brighton